Pale Master
Description
“The dead aren’t so bad once you get to know them”
Necromancy is usually a poor choice for arcane spellcasters - those who really want to master the deathless arts almost always pursue divine means. However, an alternative exists for those who desire power over undead but refuse to give up their arcane craft completely. Enter the pale master, who draws on a font of special lore that provides a macabre power all its own.
Many pale masters still end up supplementing their arcane power with levels of divine magic. The mixture of "pale lore" and clerical abilities to sway, create, command, and destroy undead can be a potent one.
Pale masters head special strike groups comprising lesser undead, supplemented as needed with more powerful, summoned undead. Sometimes they serve or act in collusion with powerful evil characters, such as true necromancers or divine spellcasters with Death as one of their domains. Wherever pale masters go, undead follow. Often it is difficult to tell a pale master from the undead that he surrounds himself with.
Requirements
Alignment: Any non-good, Lore: Religion 8
Spellcasting: Ability to cast 3rd-level arcane spells
Class Features
Hit Die: d6
Base Attack Bonus: Low
High Saves: Will
Skill points: 2 + Int modifier
Skills: Concentration, Diplomacy, Disguise, Heal, Hide, Listen, Lore (all), Move Silently, Spellcraft
BGTSCC Features
This class has been changed from the base game to include these new features:
- Receives an additional caster level at 10th level. This makes the full caster progression 6/10 allowing for a Pale Master to achieve a full 30 caster level with Practiced Spellcaster.
- Touch attack has the following DC: 10 + Pale Master Level + Casting Attribute Modifier (CHA or INT). This allows the DC to scale and follow pnp rules more closely rather than a fixed DC.
- The Pale Master summons have been improved. See below.
Class Progression
| Level | Features Gained |
|---|---|
| 1 | Arcane Spellcasting Level +1, Bone Skin I |
| 2 | Animate Dead x1 |
| 3 | Arcane Spellcasting Level +1, Darkvision |
| 4 | Bone Skin II, Summon Undead x1 |
| 5 | Arcane Spellcasting Level +1, Deathless Vigor |
| 6 | Undead Graft x2 |
| 7 | Arcane Spellcasting Level +1, Tough as Bone |
| 8 | Bone skin III, Undead Graft x3 |
| 9 | Arcane Spellcasting Level +1, Summon Greater Undead x1 |
| 10 | Arcane Spellcasting Level +1, Deathless mastery, Deathless Master's Touch x3 |
Spells per Day/Spells Known
When a new, odd-numbered pale master level and level 10 is gained (6/10 caster progression), the character gains new spells per day as though he had gained a level in whatever arcane spellcasting class gave him access to 3rd-level arcane spells. If the character had more than one applicable arcane spellcasting class, he must pick one to improve.
Bone Skin
At 1st level, the Pale Master's tough, cadaverous flesh gives them a +2 natural armor bonus to AC. This bonus increases to +4 at 4th level and +6 at 8th level.
Animate Dead
A 2nd-level Pale Master can use Animate Dead as a spell-like ability once per day.
Darkvision
At 3rd level, the Pale Master gains the ability to see in the dark.
Summon Undead
At 4th level, the Pale Master can use Create Undead as a spell-like ability once per day.
Deathless Vigor
At 5th level, the Pale Master gains a +4 bonus to their Fortitude saves.
Undead Graft
At 6th level, the Pale Master performs a horrific operation that replaces one of their arms with a supernaturally-animated, undead appendage. The pale master may make a touch attack with this arm that paralyzes the target twice per day. At 8th level, the pale master may use this touch attack three times per day.
Tough as Bone
At 7th level, the Pale Master becomes more and more like one of the implacable undead. They gain immunity to hold, paralysis, and stun effects.
Summon Greater Undead
At 9th level, the Pale Master can use Create Greater Undead as a spell-like ability once per day.
Deathless Mastery
At the 10th level, the Pale Master is practically an undead creature himself. He gains immunity to critical hits.
Deathless Master's Touch
At 10th level the Pale Master's touch becomes deadly and can instantly kill a target. This ability may be used three times a day.
DC is 10+ Pale Master level + casting attribute modifier (CHA or INT)
Does not bypass death immunity.
Level 10 Pale master summons
Palemaster Animate Dead Level 10
Palemaster Summon Undead Level 10
Palemaster Summon Greater Undead Level 10
