Homebrew Mechanical Info
Natural Ability Score Increases At level four and every four levels thereafter, a character gains a +2 to a single ability score of their choice or +1 to two different ability scores of their choice.
New Ability Score: Comeliness Charisma has long since been attributed to both a characters physical appearance as well as their personal magnetism. The reality is that appearances can be deceiving and as such Charisma will no longer represent a character's physical appearance. This shall be represented by the Comeliness score, Com for short.Comeliness (Com) Allure checks (See Skills section)
Replaces your Charisma modifier on Bluff, Intimidate, Perform (Dance), and Diplomacy checks when actively attempting to use ones appearance to one's advantage.
Replaces your Charisma modifier on Charisma based ability checks when actively attempting to use one's appearance to one's advantage.
Com Ability Score Generation : Roll 2d20 and take the preferred roll. Given that beauty is subjective, players who do not like their Com roll can elect to simply be set at a a neutral Comeliness of 10. (They can still play a beautiful character, they will simply not receive any mechanical benefit of their Com score.)Special : Most mortals can never achieve a Comeliness score of higher than 20 even with magic. Only exotic beings of supernatural origin such as Nymphs and Succubi can be said to possess higher than a 20 Com. Comelienss cannot be increased using increases to ability scores or via point buy.Note : While more of a vanity ability than a useful one, the ability to replace a characters Charisma modifier on certain checks only applies if the affected NPC's or monsters would find the PC attractive.
Alignments Alignment is not so cut and dry as many might like to paint at least in regards to good and evil. Some say there are indeed "grey" areas where morality can be viewed through different perspectives depending on what side if things you are on. We are not here to debate which is right or wrong, we are here to play a game. That said, many mechanical aspects of D&D rely on these obscure notions of alignments. As such, the following rules are in effect in regards to alignment:Races can be of any alignment regardless of the natural tendencies' of such races. For example, a demon may be a good hearted individual while an angel might be a black hearted murderer.
Class based alignment restrictions are mostly removed. The exception to this rule is with those whose class derives its' powers and abilities from holy or unholy sources. Classes that require a code of ethics or behavior may also be required to maintain a certain alignment if their code or rules fall within a specific category of alignment. These classes often draw their strength from their convictions either in the worship of a deity or the strong emotions they hold.
On Order and Chaos Order and Chaos are universal regardless of ones sense of morality and in essence are completely neutral in all things. Though gods and beings may be shaped and guided by these forces, they are caught in an endless cycle. Life and death itself are also part of these as both bring about change.
On Good and Evil Good and evil are now considered white and black karma. Ones karma tends to shift as one accumulates white and black karma through one's actions. Actions that create generally positive emotions and results create white karma. Actions that create generally negative emotions and results create black karma. If one's karma exists within a person at a far greater amount than the other then that person registers as good or evil depending. If both karma's are relatively equal, the person registers as neutral. Nearly all sentient creatures possess as least some white and black karma.
Homebrew Character Traits
[Campaign] Traits
Blackmail
Description : You or someone you know fell in with the seedy underbelly of Baalreisan and now you are paying the price. Through threats or coercion you are being forced to compete in the Parabellum games against your will. Win and the slate will be wiped clean, reject and you will likely wish you had died in the games.
Benefit : Your undesired criminal backers have eyes and ears everywhere that you can take advantage if you so choose. The week before each of your fights, choose round 1, 2, or 3 and then roll a special Diplomacy check to gather information. The later the round the higher the base DC. On success you learn the name of at least one type of monster you will be fighting in that round. For every 5 by which you exceed the DC you learn one additional monster name and type that you will be fighting. If no more monster types are present in the round, you learn one strength or weakness of one of the monsters chosen randomly.
Note : Knowing the monsters in advance allows you or other PCs you inform to make relevant Knowledge checks on the creatures, research them at libraries, and or plan countermeasures for them. Normally gladiators are not told in advance which monsters they will be battling.
Blood Debt
Description : Your life was saved long ago by a citizen of Baalreisan. At that time you swore a blood debt to them should they ever call on you. That debt is now being called in. Whether by unfortunately happenstance, cruel choice, or for some greater scheme your debtor has tasked you to compete and win at the Parabellum festival in order to pay back the debt. You must answer the call, honor demands it.
Benefit : Your blood oath grants you strength when you might otherwise be forced to break it. When subject to a fear or compulsion effect that would cause you to abandon your oath you may reroll a failed saving throw once and add your highest mental score to the reroll. (If Wisdom this effectively adds two times your Wisdom modifier to the reroll) Even if this reroll fails you may forestall the fear or compulsion effect for 1 round before it affects you as normal.
Doth Anyone Object?
Description : One way or the other you will get out of this arranged marriage. Your family is dead set on you marrying and whether you loathe your intended partner or simply have no desire to marry is up to you. In your genius or idiocy you managed to forestall your nuptials by entering the Parabellum games, but such a measure is only temporary. If you win however..... it could earn you the coin and repute to reject such a marriage outright.
Benefit : Despite your obvious desire not to go through with the marriage, one or both sides of the family want to see you survive and continue with the wedding. To that end they are using what resources they have to send you aid. Whether you choose to use said aid is up to you. Each morning prior to your fights you will receive 1d3 random magical consumable items. Each consumable will have a unique beneficial effect determined by the DM.
Gambler
Description : You always enjoyed a good gamble and with the Parabellum games fortunes can be won or lost with the right bet. But why risk your hard earned coin on strangers when you yourself are your most reliable asset? Whether by choice or accident you have entered the games yourself and placed a wager on yourself that you must win or else you will lose everything.
Benefit : You know how to bank your luck and use it when it really matters. Three times per day when you would roll a natural 20 you can choose to treat the roll as a natural 10 instead. You must make this decision before you know the result of the roll. For the remainder of the day any time you roll a natural 1 you can spend one of your banked rolls to convert the natural 1 to a natural 20. You can store up to three banked rolls at once but if not used by the end of the day these banked rolls vanish.
Glutton for War
Description : You revel in the violence of battle. You are not here for glory or gold.... no.... you seek the raw pleasure of walking the razors edge between life and death. You won't be satisfied until you have faced the deadliest beasts and strongest warriors alive. Thus you eagerly sought out the Parabellum games hoping to temporarily quench your thirst and savor the ecstasy.
Benefit : Your fighting prowess improves the more injured you become. When you are below 75% of your maximum hit points you gain +1 attack, +1 damage, +1 AC, and +1 caster level. When below 50% of your max hit points these bonuses improve to +2. When below 25% of your max hit points these bonuses improve to +3. If you possess less than 10 hit points these bonuses double to +6.
Graduation with Honors
Description : This is your final year at the prestigious Crimson Dawn military academy based in the capital of Vlastheim. Though not required, it is unofficially custom for graduates to prove themselves in the Parabellum games. Those who distinguish themselves even within the nonlethal competitions are granted higher positions of honor at their graduation; however, those who put their lives on the line and succeed are given the highest honors by the school. Those who graduate with such honors are often recruited in the upper echelons of the military, offered a position within one of the Tribunal families, or potentially even scouted by a foreign military powers.
Benefit : Your classmate's cheers from the arena seats spur you onward. You cannot look bad in front of your piers. Once per minute on a failed attack, saving throw, or opposed skill/ability check you can choose to reroll the check. This reroll gains a bonus equal to your highest mental ability score modifier.
Grim Hunter
Description : You are the only survivor of a vicious monster attack that took the lives of people close to you. You could never forget the image of the beast that still haunts your nightmares. You have spent years training and hunting the beast only to recently learn that it was captured to be used as one of the fights in the Parabellum games. With no way to acquire the beast directly from the Arena Master, you vowed to enter the games and reap sweet revenge upon the bane of your life.
Benefit : Your hatred of your chosen creature spurs you onward and aids you in slaying lesser beasts of their kin. You gain Favored Enemy tied to the creature type of the beast you are hunting. You treat your level as your Ranger level when calculating the benefits.
Special : Those who select this Campaign trait must use their Monster Encounter to craft the very beast your character seeks to slay. This beast must be of a challenge rating of 13 or higher as it has distinguished itself even possibly amongst its own kind as being fiercer and more deadly than the rest.
Hidden in Plain Site
Description : You are a wanted criminal (actual or falsely accused) from another kingdom and whether by choice or necessity you found yourself hiding out in Baalreisan with pursuers hot on your tail. They chased you down and cornered you in the capital city of Vlastheim. In your desperation to escape the law you discovered a legal loophole within the rules of the Parabellum games. The long and short of it is combatants in the Parabellum games have diplomatic immunity while on arena grounds and any attempt at extraditing criminals must wait until the completion of the games. With no choice, you quickly signed up for the games and your pursuers were indeed halted for a time by Baalreisan authorities; however, should you be caught outside arena grounds you will be arrested on the spot. Now you must not only plan your escape but survive the games in the meantime.
Benefit : Your extended stay on the arena ground has granted you certain after hours access normal visitors are not allowed. With a bit of subtly you are able to slip in and out of the arena's restricted areas to gain an advantage on your upcoming fights. The week before each of your fights, choose round 1, 2, or 3 and then roll a special Stealth check to gather information. The later the round the higher the base DC. On success you learn the name of at least one type of monster you will be fighting in that round. For every 5 by which you exceed the DC you learn one additional monster name and type that you will be fighting. If no more monster types are present in the round, you learn one strength or weakness of one of the monsters chosen randomly. If you fail this check by 10 or more you are caught by the arena attendants and held in isolation until your next match begins. In addition, future Stealth attempts have their DC's increased by 5.
Note : Knowing the monsters in advance allows you or other PCs you inform to make relevant Knowledge checks on the creatures, research them at libraries, and or plan countermeasures for them. Normally gladiators are not told in advance which monsters they will be battling. Being isolated makes it impossible for the PC to communicate with his allies or to purchase additional supplies. He will literally be allowed to join his team minutes before the fight is to start.
Hunger for Glory
Description : You seek the fame and glory that the victors of the Parabellum games reap. Your battles will be sung of in taverns for years to come while young aspiring warriors shall look to you as a role model. Even facing down death your pride will not allow you to falter.
Benefit : You becoming emboldened with each successful strike or spell. When you successfully hit with three attack rolls and or combat maneuvers in a row you roll your next attack or combat maneuver check made before the end of your next round twice and add the two d20 rolls together to determine the total. (For purposes of calculating a natural 1 or natural 20 you take the higher of the two d20 rolls). These attacks need not all take place on the same turn, but if you go longer than one round without making the next successive attack or combat maneuver check the counter resets.
When casting spells you gain a boon if the same target fails three successive saving throws against your spells or if at least three enemies fail a saving throw against a single spell on your turn. This boon takes effect on the next spell you cast after meeting the criteria. Your next spell either gains a +4 bonus to the saving throw DC or gains the benefit of one of your metamagic feats without increasing the spell's level or casting time. If you do not cast a spell by the end of your next turn upon gaining this boon the counter is reset.
In Remembrance
Description : An important ancestor of yours once competed in the games but perished in their attempt. Their death and perhaps even their failure have had a lingering effect over your family line ever since. You have taken it upon yourself to complete what your ancestor started and bring closure to their name and spirit.
Benefit : You gain a magical relic worn or used by your ancestor during their failed battles in the colosseum. This item begins as a simple magic item, but will grow in power with each successful battle you complete in the games.
Note : The item type will vary based on your character, but I will allow you to choose a base form. (Think +1 magic weapon, +2 magic armor/shield, or a minor wondrous item). This item will start out weaker than a standard item of your starting wealth might allow, but it will gain unique effects tailored to your character as it grows.
Per Mortem Vivimus
Description : You were a slave in Baalreisan until you invoked the ancient right of Per Mortem Vivimus. By this ancient right you are given one chance to earn you freedom in the Parabellum festival by fighting and winning one of the deadly competitions. You literally have nothing left to lose save your life.
Benefit : You would sooner die before allowing yourself to be chained once more. You gain the Liberation domain and treat your character level as your effective cleric level. (Using your highest mental ability score in place of your casting modifier) You may cast each Liberation domain spell normally available to you as a spell-like ability once per day.
Pride of the Kingdom
Description : You were selected to represent your homeland in the Parabellum games. It is a great honor but also a heavy responsibility. To fail will be to bring shame to your nation, your family, and you personally. Success however will uplift your status in your homeland by unimaginable margins.
Benefit : Bolstered by your pride in your nation, you refuse to accept failure. A natural 1 on an attack roll or saving throw is no longer an automatic failure. Three times per day when you would fail an attack roll or a saving through due to rolling a natural one, you may choose to reroll the attack or save and add your highest mental ability score to the roll.
Right of the Strong
Description : You have been gravely wronged by a high ranking member of Baalreisan society. Perhaps a military official unjustly accused a your friend or family member of a crime they did not commit? Maybe a noble tricked your family out of their entire lands and gold? Or perhaps one of your loved ones spoke out against the Tribunal itself and was struck down in cold blood for their arrogance? Whatever the reason, you sought revenge only to be rejected for your lack of strength and reputation. In your foes pride, arrogance, or ignorance however you found an opportunity. Gold is not the only thing that can be wagered at the Parabellum games and any bet sanctioned by Arena Master of the Volker Macht Collesuem is absolute. So you concocted a plan and managed to convince or trick you target to a wager. Should you win at the Parabellum games you will be given the right to face your foe in battle and gain your rightful vengeance free of reprisal from the laws of Baalreisan.
Benefit : When the chips are down you remember the injustice done to you by the target of your revenge. Their face appears before you and invokes a fury few can match. You gain a special form of Rage that enhances both your body and mind but takes a toll once used. While in this special rage you gain the following: +4 to one physical ability score, +4 to one mental ability score, and can convert half the damage you take to nonlethal damage. You can use this special rage for a number of rounds per day equal to your hit die plus Constitution modifier. After using this Rage you suffer a -4 penalty to the chosen ability scores and move at half speed for twice the number of rounds of rage you just spent. Unlike normal rage, you are not limited to the actions you can take during this allowing you to make complex decisions, cast spells, ect....
Stubborn Crossfang Candidate
Description : You sought to enter the legendary Crossfang monster hunter's guild; however, through misfortune, treachery, or some other machination of fate you were barred from entering through the traditional means. You were undettered in your efforts however and planned to take advantage of an ancient rule held by the Crossfang guild. Those who succeed in besting the monster trials in the Parabellum games are granted unconditional acceptance into the guild should they desire. All you have to do is survive....
Benefit : When you think about it, every creature or person could be considered a monster. Through your training you have learned how to choose weak spots with exceptional speed and accuracy. Anytime you successfully identify a creature's strengths and or weaknesses through a Knowledge check or other similair ability you gain special bonuses against the identified target. Against the target you gain Sneak Attack as rogue of half your hit die and whenever you successfully land a sneak attack against the target you may choose attack, armor class, movement, or one type of saving throw. Your attack applies a -2 penalty to the chosen score or a 5ft penalty to the creature's speed. (If a creature has multiple types of movement you must select which movement type is being impaired.). These penalties stack with themselves but can be removed as a Standard action by your target.
The Things We Do For Love
Description : For one reason or another you have entered the Parabellum games to prove or affirm your love for another. Maybe you are a chivalrous knight dedicating your victories to a fair lady? Perhaps you seek to impress a potential spouses family by winning the competition? No matter your reason, love is your driving passion and you will not let something as trivial as deadly monsters stand in the way of it.
Benefit : Your burning passion is so great that it strengthens your body making otherwise deadly blows seem like mere flesh wounds. While in combat you gain Fast Healing 5. This Fast Healing can heal a total amount of damage per day equal to [(5 + Con Modifier) x HD]. In addition, three times per day when you would normally be subject to a critical hit you may choose to negate the extra damage (and any effects dependent on a successful critical hit). Doing so however disables your Fast Healing for 1d4 rounds.
[Region] Traits
Lukae [Region] Traits
Beast's Best Friend - You spent a portion of your youth working with various livestock and beasts of burden and developed a bond with them. If your class grants you a special companion that is of the animal, magical beast, or vermin type they gain +2 Str and +2 Con. In addition, you gain an empathic connection with your special companion allowing you to give it simple commands or express simple emotions without words of gestures so long as you have line of sight to it. If you already possess a similar ability such as the Familiar's "Empathic Link" ability you gain telepathy with your companion and can give complex commands to your companion even if it would normally be unable to understand such commands.
Farmhand - You have spent time working on a farm giving you unique insights into animals and plants. You gain Knowledge (Nature) as a class skill and may substitute your Knowledge (Nature) skill in place of either the Handle Animal or Ride functions of the Handle Beast skill. Once chosen this choice cannot be changed.
Knight's Honor - Your strong knightly ideals empower you. You may substitute your Charisma modifier in place of your Wisdom modifier on Will saves made against Mind Effecting and or [Emotion] based effects.
Plains Strider - Years of traveling the well paved roads of the Lukae countryside have put a spring in your step. Whenever you charge you may count your speed as being +10ft faster before any other modifiers. In addition, you may make one 90 degree turn during a charge.
Saddle Born - From a young age you felt at home riding atop beasts. You gain Handle Beast as a class skill and any mount you ride gains a +10 trait bonus to its speed while you ride it.
Ver'Adal [Region] Traits
Artistic Soul - Years spent in the kingdom of Ver'Adal gave you the perfect environment to hone your crafts. Choose one Craft, Perform, or Profession skill. You may substitue a different mental attribute to skill checks made with that specific subset of Craft, Perform, or Profession skill. Once made this decision cannot be changed. (Examples: You could choose to use your Int modifier on Peform: Dance checks, Wisdom modifier for Craft: Alchemy, or your Charisma modifier for Profession: Bartender)
Deft Climber - Years spent scaling the massive Meloria trees have ingrained in you a keen understanding of where and how to place your hands and feet when climbing. You gain a Climb speed equal to half your base speed.
Green Thumb - Your time spent among the green singers of Ver'Adal have sharpened your magical affinity with plants. When casting any spell, spell-like ability, supernatural ability, or class feature that specifically affects or interacts with plants you gain an effective +1 trait bonus to caster level or Hit Die for purposes of calculating the abilities effects.
Note : General purpose spells and effects that just happen to target plants such as using Fabricate to convert hemp plants into rope do not benefit from this trait; however, spells like Plant Growth or Entangle do benefit as they are specifically designed to affect plants.
Keen Aim - Your time spent hunting with the rangers of Ver'Adal have taught you the ways of the arrow and bolt. You gain proficiency with one type of bow or crossbow type weapon. In addition, you gain a +1 trait bonus on critical confirmation rolls made with your chosen bow or crossbow type.
Swift yet Silent - Scouting through the dense underbrush of the Meloria forest has given you a sixth sense about where you place your feet to maximize your mobility and stealth. You may move at full speed while using Stealth without suffering the usual -5 penalty.
Mar'Zhal'Adul [Region] Traits
Cunning Smuggler - Be it smuggling magical contraband into Mar'Zhal'Adul or smuggling illegal goods into another country you are no novice to risking your neck for gold. When using Sleight of Hand, you can treat any item as one size category smaller for calculating whether it can be hidden on your person and if you gain any bonus to Sleight of Hand to the check. In addition, you may now draw a hidden weapon as a move action. If you could already draw a hidden weapon as a move action you reduce the action required to draw a hidden weapon to a swift action.
Surefooted Sailor - Your time on the sea has trained you to move well despite unstable footing. You gain Profession (Sailor) as a class skill. Each round you can ignore an amount of difficult terrain equal to 5ft + 5ft per 4 ranks in Profession (Sailor) you possess.
Shrewd Negotiator - You gain Diplomacy as a class skill and may substitute your Intelligence or Wisdom modifier in place of your Charisma modifier when using Diplomacy.
Spellscarred - In your past you were subject to or witness to a horrific use of magical power that left a permanent hatred for magic in your heart. You gain a +1 trait bonus to attacks and critical confirmation rolls against targets that you have seen cast a spell, spell-like, or supernatural ability. You suffer a -1 trait penalty to your caster level and hit die for purposes of calculating your effective caster level and or spell-like/supernatural ability effects.
Weaponized Chemist - Due to your nations hatred of magic, you delved into alchemy to supplement your lack of magical might. Your use of alchemical weapons is particularly skilled allowing you to apply your years of knowledge in the heat of battle. When using an alchemical weapon you may add your Intelligence modifier to both the direct damage and splash damage of the effect (If applicable). For alchemical weapons that do not deal damage, you instead may add your Intelligence modifier to the saving throw DC.
Note : If you could already apply your Int modifier to splash weapon damage or to the saving throw DC of an alchemical weapon this trait has no effect.
Soul Terra [Region] Traits
Born to Magic - Either through your lineage or your years spent in the magically saturated lands of Soul Terra you have developed an innate adeptness for wielding magical forces. Choose one school of magic, one sphere, or one elemental energy type. When casting spells or spell-like abilities of the chosen school, sphere, or energy type you gain a +1 trait bonus to your effective caster level or HD (Hit die in the case of class features which use hit die rather than caster level to calculate their ability effects).
Grasp at the Weave - Your ability to manipulate magical energies of a spell's normal parameter's are beyond the capabilities of most magic users. Choose one metamagic feat you possess. You may reduce the level increase of that metamagic feat by 1. Each time you level up you may choose to apply this trait to a different metamagic feat you know.
Special : This trait may also apply to (Monster) feats that mimic metamagic feats for spell-like abilities such as Empower Spell-Like Ability. When applied to such feats this trait grants the user one additional use of said feat per day.
Magizoologist - Your long studies into the fantastical creatures of the realms has granted you a better understanding of how such creature's utilize magic within their bodies. You gain Knowledge (Arcana) as a class skill and can substitute Knowledge (Arcana) in place of any other Knowledge check made to identify a creature as long as said creature possesses the capability to cast spells, spell-like abilities, or use supernatural abilities. This benefit does not apply to Humanoids or Outsiders.
Piercing the Veil - You have developed the ability to see magical auras without the need of magical aid. You gain Detect Magic as a constant spell-like ability; however, you need not concentrate to maintain the effect and do not need to spend three rounds to gain the full benefit. Aura's within your Detect Magic cone's line of sight are automatically detected and you can make skill checks to identify them as normal. This ability causes your eyes to glow a soft blue light while in use, but can otherwise be turned off and on at will on your turn.
Scholar of Lost History - Your passion for discovering lost artifacts and lore motivates you beyond normal scholars. You may add Knowledge (History) as a class skill and may substitute your Knowledge (History) check in place of Appraise checks to identify forgotten relics as well as Perception checks to notice traps or hidden doors within dungeons or remote areas.
Baalreisan [Region] Traits
Citizen of Baalreisan - You spent two grueling years serving in the Baalresian army. The experience toughened you and during those years you picked up a trick or two. You gain proficiency in one weapon of your choice. (Simple, Martial, or Exotic). Alternatively choose one type of armor or shield and gain proficiency with it.
Fiat Justitia - In one way shape or form you have witnessed the harsh justice done to criminals of Baalreisan and have come to respect the order such methods produce. You gain Intimidate as a class skill and can use the Demoralize function of Intimidate as a move action. If you know for a fact that your target has broken the law you can instead Demoralize them as a swift action.
Gladiator - You have spent time fighting in the famed Volker Macht Colosseum of Baalreisan. Such battles always kept you on your toes and your ability to react in a split second to changes in battle is second to none. Choose one combat maneuver. Once per day per two points of base attack bonus you possess, you may reduce the action required to use said combat maneuver by one step. (Standard -> Move -> Swift -> Free)
Stalker of Monsters - You have trained with the members of the Cross Fang monster hunter's guild based in Baalreisan. Their teachings have given you unique insights into hunting all manner beast which torment the common folk. When making a Knowledge check to identify the strengths and weaknesses of a monster you may make the check even untrained. In addition, you may substitute your base attack bonus for your ranks in any Knowledge check made in this way.
Streetwise Rogue - Your time spent dodging the law in the bustling towns of Baalreisan have taught you how to blend in with crowds unnoticed. You can treat creatures as one size larger for purposes of using them to make Stealth checks. In addition, when adjacent to a crowd of five or more creatures you can make a Stealth check in place of Bluff to create a diversion. On success, anyone actively looking for you loses sight of you within the crowd for one round.
Arrhakor [Region] Traits
Drawn to the Sea - You've always felt at home on and in the water. You gain a Swim speed equal to half your base land speed.
Eye for an Eye - You tend to hold a grudge more bitterly than most. Once per encounter, whenever an enemy rolls a natural 20 on an attack roll or opposed skill check against you, you may choose to "mark" the target. The next time you make an attack or opposed roll against the marked target and roll a natural 1 you may choose to convert the natural 1 to a natural 20. The "marked" status lasts until you convert a natural 1 to a natural 20, until the enemy dies, or until the end of the encounter.
Fool Me Once - Having been deceived on more than one occasion you are more keenly aware of attempts to trick you. You gain Sense Motive as a class skill and can substitute either your Intelligence modifier or Charisma modifier in place of Wisdom on Sense Motive checks.
Troublesome Tongue - Deception has been your bread and butter for many years. It can't be all bad if it keeps you alive right? You gain Bluff as a class skill and can subtitue your Intelligence or Wisdom modifier in place of your Charisma modifier on Bluff checks.
Wild Soul - Years spent in the northern wilds of Kyrfeign alongside the barbarin tribes have brought out yout latent feral instincts. You gain one of the following: Bite attack (1d4), Claw attacks x2 (1d4), Low Light Vision, Darkvision (60ft), or Scent.
Jukai [Region] Traits
Beyond the Veil - Your eyes are opened to realms of spirits adjacent to our own. You can see ethereal creatures, possessing creatures, and lingering undead spirits as easily as you can material creatures. Unfortunately this tie to the realms beyond draw such spirits to you and any such creature you see is immediately made aware of your presence.
For the Emperor - Growing up within Jukai you have come to respect or perhaps even idolize the Golden Emperor for his power and deeds of legend. This admiration inspires you in times of dire need as you push past your normal limits. You may add your Charisma score to your Constitution score when determining your death threshold.
Hard Style Martial Arts - Your unarmed fighting style focuses on singular powerful blows over multiple weaker blows. Your unarmed critical multiplier increases by 1. This does not stack with any other effect which increases your critical multiplier.
Kata Breathing - Years of practicing breathing kata's has given you more control over your bodies reaction to outside stimulus. If subject to an effect which would make you sickened, fatigued, or you would suffer the effect of a poison you may delay the onset of the effect by 1 round. You may only do this once per effect and this delayed round does not reduce the overall duration of the effect. If an effect would instead make you Exhausted or Nauseated you may reduce it to Fatigued or Sickened for 1 round. After which the effect increases back to the stronger effect.
Soft Style Martial Arts - Your unarmed fighting style focuses on small precise strikes designed to whittle down your opponent. When dealing nonlethal damage with unarmed strikes you may add your Intelligence or Wisdom modifier to the unarmed damage.
New Skills and New Skill Rulings New Skills The following are new skills available to any class. A player may choose to give up two of their class skills to make up to two of these new skills class skills. For skills that combine previous skills, if one of those previous skills was a class skill then the new combined skill is also a class skill for the class.Athletics (Str) Note : Climb, Jump, and Swim are now combined into one skill. If a class previously had even one of these as a class skill, Athletics is now a class skill for that class. The Jump function of Acrobatics is now part of Athletics and classes with Acrobatics on their class list do not automatically gain Athletics.Allure (Com) Check : In order to make an Allure check, you must have line of sight and effect to your intended target. The target must be able to see and hear the user clearly. The user makes an Allure check as a standard action with a DC equal to 10 + the target's Hit Dice + the target's Wisdom modifier. If successful, the target is intrigued and will attempt to engage the user in dialogue or otherwise attract the users attention.Distract : While similar to using Bluff to create a distraction, Allure explicitly involves the use of one's body to draw the attention of onlookers. While the user themselves may usually escape detection, the distraction may be enough to allow an ally to sneak by or some other action to go ignored for a brief moment.Seduce : The user is skilled at using his or her sexuality to entice others. Using an Allure check in this manner is different than simply attracting someone as seduction involves much more sensual or vulgar acts depending on the user. When performing acts of the naughty nature, the user may make an Allure check apposed by his or her targets Allure check. On success, the targets attitude towards the user shifts to one step friendlier for one day. For every five by which the roll exceeds the targets, the duration increases by one day. Multiple uses of Seduction do not increase the targets attitude, but simply extend the duration.Composure (Wis; IE: You must trade a class skill in order to obtain this skill. Trained Only )Special : The 3.5 Psionic Skill Autohypnosis is now rolled into the Composure skill. If a class previously had Autohypnosis as a class skill they now gain Composure instead.Resist Emotional Trauma : If you fail a save against a spell or effect with an emotional descriptor, you may make a Composure check DC 15 at the start of your next turn to ignore the the effect until the end of your turn. If the effect lasts longer than one round you may continue to make Composure checks at the start of each of your turns, but each additional check after the first increases the DC by five.Handle Beast (Dex) Note : Ride and Handle Animal are now combined into one skill. If a class previously had even one of these as a class skill, Handle Beast is now a class skill for that class.Legerdemain (Dex) Note : Disable Device, Sleight of Hand, and Use Rope are now combined into one skill. If a class previously had even one of these as a class skill, Legerdemain is now a class skill for that class.Endure (Con; IE: You must trade a class skill to gain access to this skill. Trained Only )Remain Conscious : If reduced to below 0 hit points, but not enough to kill the player. You can make an Endure check with a DC equal to 10 + the total amount of HP below 0 you are currently at in order to avoid passing out. This check does not stabilize the player, but remaining conscious may allow the player to make a Heal check or heal themselves.Ignore Fatigue : If you would begin your turn suffering from the Fatigued condition, you may make a DC 15 Endure check at the start of your turn as a free action. On success you may ignore the Fatigued condition until the end of your turn. Each successive use of this ability against a specific instance of Fatigued increases future checks by +5. On a failed check, you automatically become Exhausted. If you choose not to make an Endure check for a specific instance of Fatigued, you cannot later choose to attempt an Endure check for that instance.Ignore Sickness : If you would begin your turn suffering from the Sickened condition, you may make a DC 15 Endure check at the start of your turn as a free action. On success you may ignore the Fatigued condition until the end of your turn. Each successive use of this ability against a specific instances of Sickened increases future checks by +5. On a failed check, you automatically become Nauseated. If you choose not to make an Endure check for a specific instance of Sickened, you cannot later choose to attempt an Endure check for that instance. Ignore Pain : If suffering from a spell or ability that specifically uses excruciating pain, you make may an Endure check with a DC equal to the original saving throw of the effect to ignore the penalties until the end of your turn. This can only be used once on any individual instance of (pain) based effects.Resist Torture : You can resist torture attempts by making an opposed Endure check against your torturer's Heal check. On success you resist a specific instance of torture and suffer no additional penalties. For every day you are denied sleep you suffer a -2 penalty to Resist Torture.Style (Cha) Check : A Style check can be performed as a free action anytime the user takes some sort of physical action. The action can be as subtle as a wink or as pronounced as leaping off a building. It can also be performed whenever the user's physical form is affected by an outside effect such as an attack, spell, or even being forcefully moved. This free use of the Style skill can be done even when it is not your turn. This use of the Style skill by itself is a purely cosmetic effect with no mechanical value. (That's right you heard me, looking good is its own reward)
New Uses for Old Skills Craft New Uses : Craft skills may now be used as substitutes for any Knowledge check that a craft would normally grant the user insight into. Craft may be used in place of Appraise when dealing with goods related to the Craft skill in question. Knowledge New Uses : Whenever using a Knowledge check to identify a creature, the user gains a +1 bonus to attack, damage, AC, saves, and opposed ability and skill checks against that type of creature for the entire encounter. The DC for to identify a creature is 15 + the creatures Hit Dice. For every 5 by which the user exceeds the DC the bonus improves by +1.Note : This use of the Knowledge skills can only be used during combat. This use of the Knowledge skill cannot but made untrained.Profession New Uses : Profession skills may now be used as substitutes for any Knowledge checks that a Profession would normally grant the user insight into.Appraise Service : Profession may be used in to Appraise the value of a service just as Appraise can be used to appraise the value of a physical item.
Other Skill Rulings: Jumping is no longer a part of the Acrobatics skill. Jump has now been rolled into the Athletics skill.
On Languages and Linguistics Homebrew Language Rules
Examples: race and Examples: home kingdom . Feats and other abilities that grant a permanent skill bonus to Linguistics grant that many language levels that must be assigned when taken. Temporary boost to linguistics cannot grant new language levels. Rarer languages require more ranks to increase their levels.Language Levels
Basic vocal communication with this language is possible, but reading and writing is not. This is akin to a tourist visiting a foreign country and knowing enough of the language to get by but all native speakers of the language will easily be able to determine the speaker is not well versed in said tongue. Wisdom and Charisma opposed ability or skill checks involving use of said language suffer a -4 circumstance penalty due to your lack of understanding. Basic |
You can speak, read, and write the language. No penalties or bonuses. Intermediate |
You are either a native born and raised or you have spent countless time perfecting your use of such language. Your speech with this language likely has a strong native accent or at the very least an imitation of one. Your writing skills with the language also take advantage of every bit of cultural grammar use. Wisdom and Charisma opposed ability or skill checks involving use of said language gain a +2 circumstance bonus due to your keen understanding of the tongue. Fluent New Languages National language of Baalreisan Baalian National language of Jukai Bahk A patchwork language cobbled together over the centuries by beastfolk slaves. Normally such beastfolk possess their own unique tongues however centuries of enslavement have essentially wiped out knowledge of their true tongue. Thus Beast Speak has become the common tongue of beastfolk acting within society be they slaves or free. Beast Speak does not possess a written form. Beast Speak National language of Arrhakor Free Speak National language of Lukae Kaelen National language of Mar'Zhal'Adul Sasan National language of Soul Terra Zaivex
Allowed Languages These languages are commonly used across the realms and they cost no additional ranks in Linguistics to advance into or through. Common : Beast Speak, Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Gnolls, Goblin, Halfling, OrcThese languages are less spoken within the major kingdoms, but their use by scholars and adventurers is still present enough in the world that speakers or records of the tongues can be found with moderate enough effort. Each level of these languages require 3 ranks in Linguistics. (Or 2 if you Linguistics is a class skill). Uncommon : Aquan, Auran, Dark Folk, Ignan, Necril, Sylvan, Terran, UndercommonThese languages are rarely spoken in the civilized lands and textual records in these tongues are exceedingly rare. Finding a teacher or source of knowledge in these tongues is an extremely time and resource consuming method not to mention grasping the complexities of the tongue itself. Each level in these languages costs 4 ranks in Linguistics. (3 if it is a class skill). You may only learn one Rare language per Intelligence modifier due to the complexity involved in learning the tongue. Rare : Aboleth, Abyssal, Aklo, Celestial, Draconic, Infernal, Protean, TreantThese languages have either been rolled into existing languages or simply do not exist within the setting. Removed : Cyclops, D'ziriak, Grippli, Rougarou, Sphinx, Tengu, Vegepygmy
Disclaimer: Original credit for part of these rules goes to Jat who I "believe" was the first instance in which I saw the idea of languages being broken up into fluency levels.
Diagonal Movement Diagonal movement over a map grid only costs 5ft of movement per square.Normal : Normally the every other 5ft square moved diagonally costs 10ft of movement instead of 5ft.
Attacks of Opportunity Characters now gain an additional attack of opportunity for every 5 base attack bonus they posses. This is in addition to any additional attacks of opportunity gained from Combat Reflexes or similar feats and abilities.Note : This change is meant to relieve some of the feat tax that Combat Reflexes and similar abilities present while reflecting the improved martial prowess of higher BAB classes and monsters.
Homebrew Combat Tactics Similar to Power Attack and Combat Expertise, the following new tactics can be used in combat.Reckless Strike - You can choose to take a -1 penalty on your armor class to gain a +2 bonus on all melee attack rolls. This bonus to hit is halved (-50%) if you are making an attack with an off-hand weapon or secondary natural weapon. This bonus to attack does not apply to combat maneuver checks. In addition, your melee attacks provoke an Resolved after your attack resolves attack of opportunity from enemies and enemies attacking you in melee gain a bonus to all damage rolls equal to the bonus you gained to hit. Focused Strike - When making a full attack action in melee, you may choose to give up an iterative attack gained from BAB in order to gain a +3 bonus to hit. If forgoing two attacks the bonus increases to +6. If forgoing three attacks the bonus increases to +12. Parry Strike - When making a full attack action in melee, you may choose to give up an one or more iterative attacks gained from BAB in order to attempt to parry a future melee attacks from an enemy. Until the start of your next turn, if an enemy attacks you in melee you may make an opposed attack roll (at your full BAB) against your attackers as an attack of opportunity. On success, the attack is deflected and misses you. For each additional iterative attack you give up you may Parry one additional attack per round. You must declare that you are going to parry a blow before the attack result is known.Special : If wielding a shield, you may choose to make your parry strike using your shield instead of your weapon. Doing so allows you to add the shield's Additional shield bonuses to AC not directly tied to your wielded shield's AC are not added to this base armor bonus and any enhancement bonuses to your parry attack roll.Take the Blow - As a standard action, select one foe you can see. Until the start of the next round, if that foe makes a melee attack against you the attack automatically hits except on a natural 1. After damage has been dealt you may make a attack of opportunity against your foe. For this attack your foe is considered flat-footed. This tactic is especially dangerous however and if a foe threatens a critical hit the threat automatically confirms.Bladepoint - As a full-round action you can choose to position a slashing or piercing weapon dangerously close to a vital point on a helpless or pinned foe. Though dealing no damage, you may now perform a cou de grace action as an immediate action at any time while your foe is at bladepoint. Performing this cou de grace ends the bladepoint maneuver.
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