[3.5]Saving the Shining Blade of Heironeous

[Prime32]

Or smite evil as a prereq...

[kurashu]

Aura of Courage? Lay on Hands? Must have a code of conduct that prevents the character from committing evil acts?

There's nothing wrong with +1 Paladin Level. Several classes say that with regards to bard. Gnome racial paragon and lyricist whatever in Complete Mage.

However, I would allow this to advance classes that use the paladin's spell list (pious templar and holy liberator for example) but not classes that add paladin spells to a list (archivist, prestige paladin).

At each level listed on the table, a shining blade of heironeous gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if he had also gained a level in whatever class granted him access to the paladin's spell list before he added the prestige class level. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If a character had more than one class in which he could cast paladin spells before he became a shining blade, he must decide to which class he adds each level of shining blade for the purpose of determining spells per day.

Something like that.

[bkdubs123]

I just don't think the PrC should be something that ONLY Paladins can take. Immunity to Fear and LG alignment make it pretty obvious that Pally is an easy entry, but a Cleric with the Dream domain could also get in if they wanted to take the big hit to caster level. There's no reason not to leave it more open, especially if it's easiest to enter as a Pally, and it's not as good for classes other than Pally to take.

[Risada]

Aura of Courage? Lay on Hands? Must have a code of conduct that prevents the character from committing evil acts?

There's nothing wrong with +1 Paladin Level. Several classes say that with regards to bard. Gnome racial paragon and lyricist whatever in Complete Mage.

However, I would allow this to advance classes that use the paladin's spell list (pious templar and holy liberator for example) but not classes that add paladin spells to a list (archivist, prestige paladin).

At each level listed on the table, a shining blade of heironeous gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if he had also gained a level in whatever class granted him access to the paladin's spell list before he added the prestige class level. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If a character had more than one class in which he could cast paladin spells before he became a shining blade, he must decide to which class he adds each level of shining blade for the purpose of determining spells per day.

Something like that.

Supposing this is a PrC for Paladins.... they should already have AoC and LoH.... maybe including it in the class and make already existing stuff better? And Smite Evil should be here as well? If so, I am thinking on adding Smith Chaos as well (Justice Smite?)

Then tweak Judgement Strike and put it as capstone...

[Prime32]

Supposing this is a PrC for Paladins.... they should already have AoC and LoH.... maybe including it in the class and make already existing stuff better? And Smite Evil should be here as well? If so, I am thinking on adding Smith Chaos as well (Justice Smite?)

Those were suggestions for prerequisites, not class features (though an extra smite or two would be nice).

Smite Chaos is something St. Cuthbert might grant, but not Heironeous (All paladins are lawful anyway, and this class isn't any more lawful than usual).

[Risada]

Added some more stuff to the class... and I have no idea for what to put at 7th and 9th levels...

EDIT: added another use for Thunder Assault at 7th level...

[Prime32]

Added some more stuff to the class... and I have no idea for what to put at 7th and 9th levels...

    BAB  Fort   Ref   Will   Abilities                                     Spells per day
1.  +1    +2     +0    +2    Bonus Domain, Lightning Blade +1d8            -
2.  +2    +3     +0    +3    Energy Blade, Lightning Splash                +1 level of divine spellcasting class
3.  +3    +3     +1    +3    Smite Evil 1/day, Thunder Assault             +1 level of divine spellcasting class
4.  +4    +4     +1    +4    Righteous Blade, Lightning Blade +2d8         -
5.  +5    +4     +1    +4    Bonus Domain, Thunder Soul                    +1 level of divine spellcasting class
6.  +6    +5     +2    +5    Greater Thunder Assault, Retributive Thunder  +1 level of divine spellcasting class
7.  +7    +5     +2    +5    Lightning Blade +3d8                          -
8.  +8    +6     +2    +6    Divine Lightning, Smite Evil 2/day            +1 level of divine spellcasting class
9.  +9    +6     +3    +6                                                  +1 level of divine spellcasting class
10. +10   +7     +3    +7    Judgement Strike, Lightning Blade +4d8        -

You could move Smite evil 2/day to 9th level.


Wait, Divine Lightning now lets them heal people at will, or fire giant beams of healing energy 1/encounter? That... doesn't seem right. Heironeous doesn't have much to do with fighting undead, so even the idea of an attack powered by turn undead seems odd. (Why not power it with smites?)


Suggestions: (note that according to Dragon, both the longsword and battleaxe are favoured weapons of Heironeous)

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
   Deity: Heironeous
   Base Attack Bonus: +7
   Skills: Knowledge (religion) 7 ranks, Spellcraft 2 ranks
   Feats: Weapon focus (longsword or battleaxe)
   Spellcasting: must be able to cast 1st level divine spells

Bonus domain: at 1st and 5th levels, the shining blade of Heironeous gains a bonus domain. This can be the Storm domain or one of the domains granted by Heironeous.

Lightning Blade (Su): starting at 1st level, the shining blade of Heironeous's attacks with his deity's favoured weapon deal an additional 1d8 points of electricity damage. This damage increases by 1d8 at 4th, 7th and 10th levels.

Energy Blade (Su): starting at 2nd level, the shining blade of Heironeous can use this ability once per encounter as a swift action. When using this ability, the shining blade of Heironeous's weapon's reach increases by 5 feet. In addition, he may choose to treat his weapon as a force effect or a brilliant energy weapon (chosen at the time the ability is activated). This ability lasts for a number of rounds equal to 1 + his Charisma modifier.

Lightning Splash (Ex): starting at 2nd level, whenever the shining blade of Heironeous makes a melee attack against an opponent, all adjacent enemies take electricity damage equal to his Lightning Blade's bonus damage.

Thunder Assault (Sp): beginning at 3rd level, the shining blade of Heironeous can launch a powerful lightning attack once per encounter. All creatures in a 60ft line take electricity damage equal to 5d8 + 5 times the shining blade's Lightning Blade damage (so a 3rd level shining blade deals 10d8 points of damage). A Reflex save (DC 10 + 1/2 character level + Charisma modifier) halves this damage.

Righteous Blade (Sp): starting at 4th level, once per encounter as a swift action, the shining blade of Heironeous can charge his blade with holy power. This functions as the holy sword spell (caster level equals the shining blade's class level), except that this effect overlaps with (does not replace) any existing enchantments the weapon may have.

Thunder Soul (Ex): starting at 5th level, the shining blade of Heironeous is immune to electricity damage. In addition, all allies within 10ft. take half damage from electricity effects.

Greater Thunder Assault (Ex): beginning at 6th level, the shining blade's Thunder Assault takes the form of a 60ft cone or 120ft line. The choice is made when this class feature is granted, and cannot be changed.

Retributive Thunder (Su): beginning at 6th level, whenever the shining blade of Heironeous is struck by an attack, the attacker takes electricity damage equal to his Lightning Blade's bonus damage (so a 6th level shining blade deals 2d8 points of electricity damage) as long as the attacker is within 30 ft.

Divine Lightning (Ex): starting at 8th level, all electricity damage dealt by a shining blade ignores electricity resistance (but not immunity).

Judgement Strike (Su): at 10th level, once per encounter, the shining blade can make a special smite evil attack as a full-round action. The shining blade adds double his Charisma bonus to the attack roll, and the attack deals double its normal damage (including damage from smite evil). Additionally, if the creature struck is evil, the creature must make a Will saving throw (DC 10 + the shining blade's class level + his Charisma modifier) or be dazed for 1 round. Even if an evil creature succeeds on this saving throw, it is slowed for 1 round. A shining blade may only use this ability while wielding his deity's favoured weapon, and he must still expend a use of smite evil as normal.

[veekie]

Hmm, why not make Divine Lightning do exactly what it says on the tin? Make the Electric damage dealt 50% Divine, ala flamestrike. That'd make it work despite resistances and immunities, without being full effect on either.

Battleaxe of Lightning eh. Heh.

[Risada]

Added Prime's fixes and veekie's suggestion....

Just a question to Prime: if the capstone uses Smite attempts, I guess only 2 smites through 10 levels is very low... would 3 smites (3,6,9?) be too much?