Your belief in a higher power is unshakable... and it may even be stronger than the cleric who leads the gathering of faithful you worship with. You do not wear the cloth, because you have been called to serve in a different way. But you know that your god watches over you and smiles upon your deeds. You know, because you have experienced miracles and you know that your faith has seen you through situations where non-believers would have perished.
Here are a couple of d20 System feats for characters who have strong faith in higher powers, but who are not priests, clerics, or some other religious leader. In fact, these feats are specifically not for classes that have access to divine spells. Instead, they are for the lay-person.
Like most of the material we create for d20 System games, d20 Modern and compatible games is premiere in our minds, but this material is easily adapted to StarFinder and any other game that uses the d20 System as its core engine.
The rest of this post is released under the Open Game License and may be reproduced in accordance with its terms. Copyright 2019 Steve Miller.
FAITHFUL [General, Dedicated Hero]
Sometimes, your faith in greater powers is rewarded. Prerequisite: Intelligence 11, Wisdom 13 Benefit: State a religion your character believes in, firmly. When something goes terribly wrong--such as failing a crucial skill check, fail a life-or-death saving throw (and circumstances are such that you know it), or similar event--your character's deeply held faith may cause the greater powers in the universe to take notice and intervene on your behalf. Invoke this feat immediately after the failed roll. You may reroll it with a +4 bonus. If the second roll succeeds, something miraculous happens that allows the character to recover from the failure.
This feat may be used a number of times equal to the character's Wisdom bonus each game session. Special: Clerics and other characters who gain spells from supernatural beings may not select this feat; the greater powers in the universe already give them plenty in return for their faith. If a character with this feat gains the ability to cast divine spells or gains wizard spells through deals with powerful beings, all benefits from this feat are lost
MARTYR [General, Dedicated Hero]
You suffer for your faith, knowing that you will be rewarded. Prerequisite: Faithful Benefit: As your character looses hit points from damage suffered while fighting for (or otherwise working toward) a cause he or she believes in, extra reserves of energy born from the deeply held knowledge that you are sacrificing for a greater cause.
The benefits from this feat depend on how many hit points the character has lost. The benefits to do stack; the replace one another as the character is injured.
Down Between 10% and 25% of full hit point total: +1 bonus to all saving throws and skill checks. Down Between 25% and 50% of full hit point total: +2 bonus to all attack rolls and saving throws. Down Between 50% and 75% of full hit point total: +4 bonus to all saving throws and AC/DR. Down Between 75% and 100%: +4 bonus to all saving throws, regain 2d6 hit points for each successful saving throw rolled. Negative Hit Points, Between -1 and -10: Roll a Fortitude saving throw. If successful, regain 2d6 hit points. If the character's hit point total is still a negative number, the character is unconcious but stable.
Negative Hit Points, Below -10: The character finds him- or herself engulfed in a bright light. He or she is given the choice to move onto the reward for dying in the service of the deeply held convictions and beliefs, or remain in the mortal realm of pain and suffering, as a disembodied spirit but with the ability to fight on. If the character rejects the reward, he or she immediately gains the Disembodied template.
What will the new year bring? Well, with this new d20 System feat, your character might know. (This is an initial draft idea that will probably see some revision and expansion. But the text in this post is still presented under the Open Game License, and it may be reproduced in accordance with it.
FORTUNE TELLING [Supernatural]
Most believe you are a charlatan--and, frankly, maybe you do have a little touch of that in you--but your ability to see the future is quite real. It may not always be reliable, and your visions may not always be clear, but you do more good than harm. Prerequisite: Wisdom 12, Charisma 12, Foresight feat Benefit: By spending 2d6 minutes less a number of minutes equal to his or her Wisdom bonus, and studying some focus device, the character may use one of several benefits gained by this feat, up to three times per day. The focus device can be a deck of tarot cards, a crystal ball, grounds or leaves at the bottom of a cup, chicken bones, or any other item associated with fortune telling or seeing the future.
The abilities derived from this feat are as follows. Each requires a Wisdom check to use successfully; the GM may choose to make the roll on the player's behalf in secret or may allow the player to roll it him- or herself. If the Wisdom check is successful, the GM must provide as truthful answers as possible, but a failed roll can either provide completely false information or no result at all. ("Your destiny is cloudy... many powerful forces are arrayed against you.") Weal or Woe: Reveal if a course of action will be mostly beneficial or mostly harmful for the person considering it; this is a "yes" or "no" question. (DC8) Locate Object or Person: See the current location of an object or person, as well as having a sense of how dangerous it might be to remove it from that location. The vision provides clues as to where the place is, although further research or use of fortune-telling abilities may be needed to determine what they mean and how they can lead characters to the location. (DC12) Sense Destiny: See a vision of a location and/or a person that will have a major impact on the person being considered during the fortune-telling. If it's a location, there are clues present as to where it might be. If it's a person, the vision is clear enough that he or she can be described in detail, and there will be a unique object seen that is associated with him or her. (DC12 minimum... the higher above the target number the roll, the clearer the vision.)
What are the tea leaves revealing to her via the Fortune Telling feat?
'Tis the Season for Feats... and these should appeal to d20 System gamers wether they love of hate Christmas! (All feats in this post are presented under the Open Game License.) GRINCH [General]
You are adept at stealing that which might bring others joy. Benefit: From December 15 through January 5 each year, you gain a +4 bonus to all Disable Device/Traps, Hide, Move Silently and Open Locks skill checks made to steal gifts, packages, and holiday decorations. Special: During the rest of year, bonus is reduced to +1.
HOLIDAY WARRIOR [General]
Whether you're pro-Christmas ("there's a war on Christmas!"/"I am insulted that you wished me Happy Holidays!") or anti-Christmas ("your cultural appropriation of the trappings of dead pagan religions offends me"/"I feel violated by your Christmas decorations!"), you are a brilliant at ruining everyone's good mood and holiday cheer. Benefit: Whenever the character is within 30 ft. of Christmas decorations, or other items related by Christmas, or someone brings up anything related to Christmas or wishes him or her "Happy Holidays!", you gain a +4 bonus to Intimidate skill checks, as well as a +2 bonus to all melee attack rolls. You also impose a -2 penalty on Morale checks. The effects last until the character leaves the area. Special: The benefits of this feat can also apply to Easter, Kwanza, Yom Kippur, Ramadan... any major holiday during which others want to have fun or enjoy each other's company and fellowship that the character wants to ruin. In such cases, the player merely needs to say that he or she is applying the Holiday Warrior benefits to the holiday in question.
KRAMPUS [General]
The naughty had better watch out!
Prerequisite: Naughty or Nice
Benefit: You gain a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls against targets identified using the Naughty or Nice feat. In addition, any spells or spell-like abilities uses agains the target function at one level higher than the character's actual caster level.
It's been entirely too long since we've engaged in a demonstration that will curry favor with the important people in the hobby game business-- the Guardians of Everything Pure and Good and Politically Correct and Socially Acceptable. Since we crave acceptance, we hope this post will make up for that oversight, with a new starting occupation for OGL Modern/d20 Modern!
All text in this post is presented under the Open Game License and may be reproduced in accordance with its terms. Copyright 2018 Steve Miller.
STARTING OCCUPATION: SOCIAL JUSTICE WARRIOR
Even before you became an adventuring hero, you fought a relentless battle against Evil. You are a morally superior being who isn't afraid to let the world know it. Even if you have to punch someone because you don't like what they have to say or how they talk or how they dress or the color of their skin. Prerequisite: Age 15+ Class Skill: Choose one of the following skills as permanent class skills. If a skill the character selects is already a class skill, he or she or ze or it receives a +1 competence bonus on checks using that skill. Computer Use, Knowledge (arcane lore, art, behavioral sciences, current events, popular culture, or theology and philosophy), Perform (dance, percussion instruments, or sing), Research. Bonus Feat: Pick three feat to gain as bonus feats. You must meet any prerequisites before selecting a feat. Alternative Fact, Detect Fascist, Do As I Say Not As I Do, Perpetually Offended, Portable Safe Space, Protest, Righteous Mob, Shameless, Specialty Martial Artist, Understand "Dog Whistle", Venting Your Righteous Anger Special: Characters with this starting profession may select any of the bonus feats listed above in place of bonus feats earned when advancing in their class.
NEW FEATS
The following feats are among those that are available to the Social Justice Warrior as bonus feats. Details on others can be found by clicking on the links in the Bonus Feat list above.
DETECT FASCIST
You know a fascist when you see one! Benefit: Pick someone you don't like--the reason doesn't matter. Declare that person a fascist. Gain a +2 bonus to melee attack rolls.
DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO
You say things others should live by. Prerequisite: Cha 15 Benefit: +4 bonus to all Bluff and Intimidate skill checks.
PERPETUALLY OFFENDED No matter who you're dealing with, what is going on, or where you are, you can find something to be offended by. Prerequisite: Maximum WIS score of 10. Benefit: Pick a reason and a target. Gain a +4 bonus to skill checks (such as Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidate) and attack rolls and damage rolls directed at it for a number of hours equal to 1/2 your character level. For example, if you take offense at a book you see for sale online (like this one), you gain a +4 bonus to your Craft (writing) skill while posting online about how you want a boycott of the horrible item, and a +4 bonus to Intimidate when you post to the Facebook page set up by fans of the work you hate.
RIGHTEOUS MOB
You gain strength from being around those who, like you, are pure of heart and righteous in deed. Prerequisite: Detect Fascist Benefit: Gain a +1 bonus to melee attack and damage rolls against someone who has been declared a fascist. The bonuses are in increased by +1 for each character who possesses the Righteous Mob who are within a 15-foot radius of each other. SHAMELESS
You keep your cool in situations where most others would either be ashamed, embarrassed or painfully self-aware. Benefit: +2 bonus to all Bluff and Perform skill checks. Special: If the character has 5 or more ranks in Perform (acting), this feat grants a +2 synergy bonus to Diplomacy skill checks.
UNDERSTAND "DOG WHISTLE"
You hear the secret messages contained in the utterances of fascists, no matter how cleverly they attempt to hide them from the uninitiated. Prerequisite: Detect Fascist, Perpetually Offended Benefit: Once you've targeted someone with the Detect Fascist feat, you may, as a free action, declare anything they say to contain a hidden fascist message that only fascists (and perhaps Nazis) can hear. Roll a Will save (DC11) to convince yourself that what you are saying is true and gain an additional +2 bonus to melee attack and melee damage rolls directed at the target, as well as a +4 bonus to Intimidate skill checks made against anyone within the sound of your voice. Special: Characters possessing the Righteous Mob feat ignore the bonus to Intimidate gained from Understand "Dog Whistle".
Rules to bring diversity to the "d20 Modern" character generation system can be found here. Use them.
This is a supplement for d20 System games (such as d20 Modern). However, it easily adapted to any RPG system that features statistics for undead creatures, such as zombies, ghouls, and the like. It was inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's "Herbert West, Re-Animator" stories (and, of course, the hilarious gore-fests that are Re-Animator, Bride of Re-Animator, and Beyond Re-Animator).
The RE-AGENT and MAKING MORE RE-AGENT sections are released under the Open Game License and may be reproduced in accordance with its terms. The rest of the text in this article is Product Identity. Copyright 2018 Steve Miller.
HERBERT WEST AND HIS RE-AGENT IN BRIEF
In 1903, a young medical student named Herbert West claimed he had discovered a compound that would restore life to dead beings if injected into their bodies; as a result, he was ridiculed, first by his fellow medical students and later by the medical and scientific community at large. After graduating from medical school, he established a medical practice in Boston with long-time friend Daniel Abbott, and he served as a volunteer doctor during World War I. During this time, he reportedly continued his research into reviving the dead, and, according to statements given to the authorities by Dr. Abbott, this research led directly to West's mysterious disappearance in October of 1922. No one believed Abbott's claims that West had been carried off by zombies reanimated by the Re-Agent, and Abbott was written off as a madman.
Herbert West's fate remained a mystery for almost a century... until the great-great grandson of Daniel Abbott, Joshua Madison, went through some of Abbott's journals and located West's secret laboratory, and more than a gallon of the Re-Agent solution--as well as several variations on the formula to create more.
THE RE-AGENT
Although West went through 37 formula variations in his attempt to perfect the chemical compound that bring life to the dead, they all basically function the same and are identical when visually inspected--a bright green liquid.
It takes 20ccs of Re-Agent to revive an average size adult human--half that for children and 30ccs for large or obese adults. Similarly, the amount needed to revive an animal varies on its size, ranging from 5cc (for rabbits or house cats) to 30 cc (for horses or cows).
If too little of the Re-Agent is injected, nothing happens. If too much is injected, the corpse convulses for 1d6+1 rounds, possible screaming random phrases as if the tortured soul within it is trying to communicate. It then explodes in a shower of gore and bone fragments, dealing 1d4 points of damage to everyone within 10 feet. Characters covered in gore must roll a Fortitude save or be sickened for six rounds less their Constitution bonus.
The type of undead the corpse animates as depends on how long its been dead, plus a random roll on 1d6. The creature has the statistics as is typical for the game unless the random roll indicates otherwise. In all cases, the creature is disoriented for a few moments after being revived (1d6 rounds), after which is flies into a rage and attacks nearest person, or, if intelligent, either the person responsible for his or her death and/or reanimation. Undead with low intelligence or higher remember some or all of their previous life, even if they grow increasingly insane due to their state. All undead created by the Re-Agent are free-willed and can only be commanded through whatever supernatural means are described in the game system.
Unless otherwise noted, all attacks are made with the base creatures standard attack values.
Re-Agent Results Tables (Roll 1d6) Subject Deceased 0-15 Minutes
1-3. Standard Ghoul
4-5. Ghoul with Strength Score of 20
6. Standard Ghoul, but when reduced to half or less of its starting hit points, the creature bursts open and its entrails and organs begin attacking. The creature is restored to full hit points. It now gets three melee attacks per round, each dealing 1d4 points of damage. These attacks can be made against different targets. These attacks do not carry the threat of paralysis.
A critical hit causes the target to become entangled in the writhing guts. Being so entangled imposes a -2 penalty to attack rolls, but it reduces the undead's attacks to two per round. The target may break free with a successful Strength check (DC14). Any additional critical hits are treated as normal hits.
If the target is entangled for more than two rounds, the flailing guts wrap around the target's face, beginning to strangle him or her. The target must now roll a Fortitude save each round (DC8, with the DC increasing by 2 each subsequent round) until he or she manages to break free. If the target fails a Fortitude save, he or she falls unconscious and is defenseless. The target continues to be pummeled and dies from strangulation within 5 rounds if not rescued.
Subject Deceased 16-59 Minutes
1-3. Standard Ghoul
4-5. Standard Zombie
6. Standard Zombie, but when reduced to half or less of its starting hit points, the creature bursts open and its entrails and organs begin attacking. The creature is restored to full hit points. It now gets three melee attacks per round, each dealing 1d4 points of damage. These attacks can be made against different targets.
A critical hit causes the target to become entangled in the writhing guts. Being so entangled imposes a -2 penalty to attack rolls, but it reduces the undead's attacks to two per round. The target may break free with a successful Strength check (DC14). Any additional critical hits are treated as normal hits.
If the target is entangled for more than two rounds, the flailing guts wrap around the target's face, beginning to strangle him or her. The target must now roll a Fortitude save each round (DC8, with the DC increasing by 2 each subsequent round) until he or she manages to break free. If the target fails a Fortitude save, he or she falls unconscious and is defenseless. The target continues to be pummeled and dies from strangulation within 5 rounds if not rescued.
Subject Deceased 1 Hour - 24 Hours
1-3. Standard Zombie
4. Zombie with Strength Score of 20 and skills and mental stats it had when it was alive
5. Standard Zombie, but when reduced to half or less of its starting hit points, it collapses into the gory heap on the ground. The following round, its arms and legs begin to attack targets in the area independently. Each limb has DR6, has 6 hit points, and deals 1d4 points of damage per attack.
6. Standard Zombie, but when reduced to half or less of its starting hit points, the creature bursts open and its entrails and organs begin attacking. The creature is restored to full hit points. It now gets three melee attacks per round, each dealing 1d4 points of damage. These attacks can be made against different targets.
A critical hit causes the target to become entangled in the writhing guts. Being so entangled imposes a -2 penalty to attack rolls, but it reduces the undead's attacks to two per round. The target may break free with a successful Strength check (DC14). Any additional critical hits are treated as normal hits.
If the target is entangled for more than two rounds, the flailing guts wrap around the target's face, beginning to strangle him or her. The target must now roll a Fortitude save each round (DC8, with the DC increasing by 2 each subsequent round) until he or she manages to break free. If the target fails a Fortitude save, he or she falls unconscious and is defenseless. The target continues to be pummeled and dies from strangulation within 5 rounds if not rescued.
Subject Deceased One Day - Two Days
1-3. Standard Zombie
4. Standard Ghoul
5. Standard Zombie, but when reduced to half or less of its starting hit points, it collapses into the gory heap on the ground. The following round, its arms and legs begin to attack targets in the area independently. Each limb has DR6, has 6 hit points, and deals 1d4 points of damage per attack.
6. The subject rises from the dead, fully healed of whatever injuries or ailments that killed him or her. After a number of minutes equal to 2d6+subject's Con bonus, the subject's body starts to dissolve into a gooey, bloody mess. The transformation takes three rounds, with the subject screaming in agony the whole time. On the fourth round, the subject's entrails and internal organs burst from his or her disintegrating form and start attacking. The subject continues to scream, alternating between incoherent shrieks of pain, pleas for the misery to end, and swearing that would shock a sailor.
The subject's entrails get three melee attacks per round, each dealing 1d4 points of damage. These attacks can be made against different targets.
A critical hit by the entrails causes the target to become entangled in the writhing guts. Being so entangled imposes a -2 penalty to attack rolls, but it reduces the undead's attacks to two per round. The target may break free with a successful Strength check (DC14). Any additional critical hits are treated as normal hits.
If the target is entangled for more than two rounds, the flailing guts wrap around the target's face, beginning to strangle him or her. The target must now roll a Fortitude save each round (DC8, with the DC increasing by 2 each subsequent round) until he or she manages to break free. If the target fails a Fortitude save, he or she falls unconscious and is defenseless. The target continues to be pummeled and dies from strangulation within 5 rounds if not rescued.
Subject Deceased Three Days
1-3. The subject rises from the dead, fully healed of whatever injuries or ailments that killed him or her. After a number of hours equal to 2d6+subject's Con bonus, the subject turns into a Standard Ghoul. The transformation takes three rounds, during which the subject is in terrible agony and when it's complete, he or she attacks anyone within melee range until slain.
4. The subject rises from the dead, fully healed of whatever injuries or ailments that killed him or her. After a number of hours equal to 4d6+subject's Con bonus, the subject turns into a Standard Ghoul. The transformation takes three rounds, during which the subject is in terrible agony and when it's complete, he or she attacks anyone within melee range until slain.
5-6. The subject rises from the dead, fully healed of whatever injuries or ailments that killed him or her. After a number of hours equal to 4d6+subject's Con bonus, the subject's body starts to dissolve into a gooey, bloody mess. The transformation takes three rounds, with the subject screaming in agony the whole time. On the fourth round, the subject's entrails and internal organs burst from his or her disintegrating form and start attacking.
The subject's entrails get three melee attacks per round, each dealing 1d4 points of damage. These attacks can be made against different targets. The subject may also attack, using melee or ranged weapons with his or her standard attack bonuses. The subject is now full of a cold, calculating desire to kill any living thing it can.
A critical hit by the entrails causes the target to become entangled in the writhing guts. Being so entangled imposes a -2 penalty to attack rolls, but it reduces the undead's attacks to two per round. The target may break free with a successful Strength check (DC14). Any additional critical hits are treated as normal hits.
If the target is entangled for more than two rounds, the flailing guts wrap around the target's face, beginning to strangle him or her. The target must now roll a Fortitude save each round (DC8, with the DC increasing by 2 each subsequent round) until he or she manages to break free. If the target fails a Fortitude save, he or she falls unconscious and is defenseless. The target continues to be pummeled and dies from strangulation within 5 rounds if not rescued.
Subject Deceased Four Days to Four Years
1-3. Standard Zombie
4-5. Standard Zombie, but when reduced to half or less of its starting hit points, it collapses into the gory heap on the ground. The following round, its arms and legs begin to attack targets in the area independently. Each limb has DR6, has 6 hit points, and deals 1d4 points of damage per attack.
6. A Zombie, with all the memories, skills, and mental stats of the character when he or she was alive. Strength attribute score of 22.
Subject Deceased Five Years to 50 Years
1-2. Standard Zombie
3. Standard Zombie, but when reduced to 0 or less hit points, it explodes into a massive cloud of dust and spores. All living beings within a 10-ft. radius are Blinded for 1d6+2 rounds, and must roll Fortitude saves (DC12) or be Sickened 1d4 rounds.
4-5. Standard Mummy with all the memories, skills, and mental stats of the character when he or she was alive.
6. Standard Mummy, but when reduced to half of its hit points it unleashes a massive swarm of insects through its mouth. (Treat as a creeping doom spell cast by a 12th-level caster.)
Subject Deceased 51 Years to 500 Years
1. Standard Zombie
2-4. Standard Mummy
5. Standard Mummy, but when reduced to half its hit points, it issues a howl and a massive cloud of dust and spores rush from its mouth and swirl around the area. All living beings within a 10-ft radius are Blinded for 2d6 rounds and must roll Fortitude saves (DC12) or be Sickened for 2d4 rounds.
6. A Lich, with the spellcasting abilities of a 5th-level sorcerer
Subject Deceased 501 Years or More
1-2. Standard Skeleton
3. A Lich, with the spellcasting abilities of 12th-level sorcerer
4. Standard Mummy, except when reduced to half its hit point, it issues a howl and a massive could of dust rush from its mouth and swirl around the area. All living beings within a 10-ft radius are blinded for 2d6 rounds and must roll Fortitude saves (DC14) or be Sickened for 2d4 rounds.
When reduced to 0 hit points, the mummy explodes into a massive swarm of insects. (Treat as a creeping doom spell cast by a 15th-level caster. Also, any dead bodies within a 30-ft. radius rise as Standard Skeletons.
5. A Lich, with the spellcasting abilities of a 15-level sorcerer.
6. The subject is apparently restored fully to life, its body gradually returning to full and vibrant health over the course of three rounds. However, the subject is actually a Standard Succubus (or Incubus, depending on the sex of the subject).
MAKING MORE RE-AGENT
By following one of West's formulas, characters can use their Craft (Chemicals) skill (DC15) or their Craft (Pharmaceuticals) skill (DC22) to create more Re-Agent. They may make it in batches of one pint to as many gallons as they wish. Obtaining the materials to create 1 pint of Re-Agent requires a Wealth Check of DC8. The check increases by +2 for each additional pint worth of materials purchased.
Off-Label Effects
Depending on which variation is used. the Re-Agent may have effects that Dr. West didn't intend. These are listed below and may be discovered by accident or experimentation; some may be deduced by studying the notes of Dr. West or Dr. Abbott (Research skill checks of DC15).
If characters are using or studying Re-Agent originally made by West, the DM should roll a 1d8 to see if there are any off-label effects. (West did not label his Re-Agent batches according to which formula he used to make them, because he had that information in memory.)
Formula Used Off-Label Effect
1-7. None. (1)
8-16. Can be turned into an aerosols spray.
Dose can re-animate 1d4+1 sprayed corpses. (2)
17-25. None. (3)
25-26. Living beings become Zombies 1d4+2 hours
after being injected (or eating or drinking food
contaminated with Re-Agent). Fortitude save DC 22
to negate. (4)
27-29. None. (5)
30-33. If submerged in Re-Agent, corpses will reanimate. (6)
34-35 None. (7)
35-37. If more than one gallon of Re-Agent is spilled and seeps
into the ground near a cemetery or other burial site, 1d8+1
Standard Zombies rise and set out to kill the living. (8)
To amuse himself and his Facebook Friends, our fearless leader Steve Miller did some pothead releated d20 Sysetm content. The thing took on a life of its own, and a product thematically similar to OGL Drunkardsmay be forthcoming. Meanwhile, here's a draft of some of the potential content. (Like Secrets of the Witchkind drew some inspiration from the classic TV series Bewitched, so does this hypothetical product draw inspiration from Charles Bands' Evil Bong series. (All text for the rest of this post is released under the Open Game License. Copyright Steve Miller 2018.)
Comments are welcomed!
NEW STARTING OCCUPATION Stoner
Prerequisite: Age 15+
Skills: Choose three of the following skills as permanent class skills. If a skill the character selects is already a class skill, he or she receives a +1 competence bonus on checks using that skill. Craft (visual art or writing), Knowledge (arcane lore or popular culture), Perform (dance, keyboards, percussion instruments, sing, stringed instruments), Spot.
Feats: Select either Creative or Pothead
Special: Characters with this starting profession may select [Stoner] feats in place of bonus feats earned when advancing in their class.
NEW SKILL Herbalism (Wis, trained only)
You can tell skunk weed from the good stuff, and you can tell what can be smoked and what shouldn't be smoked. You also know the ingridents for making simple herbal remedies. The DC of the skill check depends on what you are attempting to accomplish. Here are some examples:
DC5: Tell catnip from pot
DC8: Tell skunk weed from the good stuff.
DC11: Make a hang-over remedy, or otherwise alleviate mild pain.
DC15: Tell the good stuff from Magic Weed Special: If the character has 5 ranks in Herbalism, he or she gains a +2 synergy bonus to Craft (Pharmaceutical).
NEW FEATS Emptyhead [Stoner]
You can clear your mind and gain amazing results.
Prerequisite: Pothead
Benefit: Roll a Concentration skill check (DC11+your INT bonus) and meditate. For each round spent in meditation to clear your mind, the character gains a +2 bonus to the next Resarch, Gather Information, and Spot skill checks you make.
Greater Emptyhead [Meta-Gaming, Stoner]
The wide open spaces of your mind can yield unusual insights.
Prerequisite: Emptyhead
Benefit: Roll a Concentration skill check (DC13+your INT bonus) as a full round action. If the check is successful, you may ask the GM three questions geared toward solving whatever problems or mysteries the characters are trying to overcome in the game. The GM must give you an honest and helpful answer (like an obvious clue or the outright solution). The GM does not necessarily need to provide the means to resolving the problem or evidence to prove the solution to the mystery, just provide the answers to the questions. If the question has no answer, the GM can say that he or she doesn't know. (In game terms, these answers come to the character using the Greater Emptyhead feat as flashes of brilliant and cosmic insight.)
Master of the Emptyhead [Stoner]
Your mind is a gateway to other times and places and worlds
Prerequisite: Greater Emptyhead
Benefit: Roll a Concentration skill check (DC13+your INT bonus). Meditate for three rounds. At the end of the third round, your mind becomes a dimensional portal and you and all creatures within 30 feet of your location are transported to a random time and place. [TBD = Table to be Designed]
Pothead [Stoner]
You toke 'em when you got 'em.
Benefit: Gain a permanent -1 penalty to Initiaive checks, but a +4 bonus to Will saving throws to resist mind-affecting magic and spell-like effects.
Special: You gain a +2 bonus to Wealth checks made when scoring weed.
Some five years ago, NUELOW head-honcho Steve Miller had an idea for a system of super powers that could be grated onto any d20 System game that used the feats and talents mechanic to advance character abilities. It began with the post linked here, and Miller and his partner in NUELOWness, L.L. Hundal, has been expanding upon it ever since... through posts here at the blog and with content in many of the comics/rpg hybrid products that they've produced.
Miller & Hundal have agreed that they think they've just about covered all their favorite comic book heroes and their abilities via the rules they've been creating... and that it may be time to pull all the bits and bobs together into a unified and coherent whole and release an actual product! One of the last pieces may or may not be this new base class while Hundal has been using in her d20 Modern games for the last few go-arounds.
All text in this post is released under the Open Game License and may be reproduce in accordance with its terms. Copyright Steve Miller 2018
THE SUPER HERO CLASS
By L.L. Hundal & Steve Miller
There are Fast heroes, Smart Heroes, Strong heroes... all the kinds of heroes you find described in the d20 Modern Standard Reference Document. But the Super hero stands above them all. Whether driven by supernatural forces, family heritage, or some life-altering trauma, the super hero has powers and abilities beyond those of mere mortals that he or she puts to use to defend the innocent from criminals and other evil people and entities that would prey upon them. It is a versatile class with access to the wide range of talents, as well as minor power feats.
THE SUPER HERO CLASS
Ability: Player's Choice; Super heroes come in all shapes, sizes and intelligence quotients.
Hit Die: 1d8
Action Points: Super heroes gain a number of action points equal to 5 + one-half their character level, rounded down, at 1st level and every time they attain a new level in this class.
Class Skills: The Super hero's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are: Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (mechanical) (Int), Drive (Dex), Escape Artist (Dex), Hide (Dex), Jump (Strength), Knowledge (current events, science [pick individual branches separately], streetwise) (Int), Move Silently (Dex), Pilot (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Speak Language (none), and Tumble (Dex).
Also, the starting occupation the character selects can provide additional class skills to choose from.
Skill Points at 1st Level: (6 + Int modifier) x4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 5 + Int modifier.
Table: The Super Hero
Class Level
Base Attack Bonus
Fort Save
Ref Save
Will Save
Class Features
Defense Bonus
Reputation Bonus
1st
+1
+0
+1
+1
Talent
+2
+0
2nd
+2
+1
+1
+1
Bonus feat
+3
+1
3rd
+3
+1
+2
+1
Talent
+3
+1
4th
+4
+2
+2
+2
Bonus feat
+4
+2
5th
+5
+2
+3
+2
Talent
+4
+2
6th
+6/+1
+3
+3
+2
Bonus feat
+5
+3
7th
+6/+1
+3
+4
+3
Talent
+5
+3
8th
+7/+2
+4
+4
+3
Bonus feat
+6
+4
9th
+7/+2
+4
+5
+3
Talent
+6
+4
10th
+8/+3
+5
+5
+4
Bonus feat
+7
+5
Starting Feats
In addition to the two feats all characters get at 1st level, a Super hero begins play with the Combat Martial Arts feat, or a Weapons Proficiency feat of the player's choice. The character must meet any prerequisites before selecting a feat.
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Super hero.
Talents
At 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th level, the Super hero may select a talent from any the following talent trees. Some trees have a set order that must be followed, while others provide a list to choose from.
Any and all Super Power talent trees for which the Super hero meets the prerequisites.
No talent can be selected more than once unless expressly indicated in its description.
Feats
At 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, and 10th level, the Super hero may select a bonus feat from the following list.
Any [Minor Power] feat, plus Alertness, Athletic, Blind-fight, Builder, Combat Expertise, Educated, Gearhead, Improved Disarm, Frightful Presence, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Meticulous, Studious, Trustworthy, Weapon Focus.
Here's some additional information about, and feats and a starting profession for, the Ninja Cuties!
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NINJA CUTIES
Ninja Cuties trace their origins back to mid-15th Century Japan when the Shouchiibi Ninja Clan decided they would develop their skills around "working smarter not harder, and generally take advantage of being smoking hot!" The effort was hugely successful, and male and female clanmembers vamped and vogued their way through the next few centuries before doing either was even a Thing. With the advent of photography, and eventually motion pictures, they spread across the world, hiding their true natures as spies and assassins and all-around rogues-for-hire behind the facade of being actors and models.
Whereever they went, they recruited local beautiful people into their ranks, and by the 1940s, they were the first truly global Ninja Clan. A number of the most glamorous internationally known models and movie stars have been Ninja Cuties--something which remains true to this day.
During the 1930s, this led to the Great Sundering, as those Ninja Cuties based outside of Japan were increasingly at odds with those in the land of their origins, finding themselves fighting against the Japanese Empire rather than for it. (The Ninja Cuties in the U.S. were in a particularly strange position, as White and Black Ninja Cuties were fighting both Japanese agents and the American government as they established secret havens for those among them who were of Japanese descent.
During the Cold War, the various factions of Ninja Cuties came back together, united by common heritage and good looks. Through the decades since the fall of the Berlin Wall, their global secret network has only grown stronger. In the modern world, a Ninja Cutie will always help a member of the clan, even if their nations are at odds. Even Ninja Cuties who have strayed from the path set down by their forebears can expect help and support from the clan. call on that person will receive help and support from the clan.
In present day, Ninja Cuties can be found throughout the entertainment and modeling businesses. Some have even entered the political realm, as good looks and sharp wit has become more important than actual intelligence and leadership skills. In order to preserve the secrecy surrounding the Shouchiibi Clan, some Ninja Cuties use their martial arts prowess as part of their performances, and have even arranged to have fictionalized and comedic versions of their secret society presented on film, such as the one featured in Zoolander 2. As a result, even if sopmeone were to attempt to expose the existince of the Ninja Cuties, they would be laughed at and silly crazy conspiracy theorists.
Art by Claudio Pozas. Used with Permission.
D20 SYSTEM RULES FOR NINJA CUTIES
The rest of this post is presented under the Open Game License and may be reproduced within its terms. Copyright Steve Miller 2018. You can read the original Ninja Cutie post here (or just scrolling down if you're on the main blog page).
STARTING PROFESSION
Most Ninja Cuties are raised from a young age to be cute but deadly. This starting profession reflects that, and unless the character was inculcated into the Secret Circle of Cutie Ninjas later in life, this Starting Profession should be chosen.
NINJA CUTIE
You were born and raised within the secret community of the Ninja Cuties. Whether you stayed true to your childhood training and heritage as your family wished, or ultimately chose to persue a different path. Prerequisite: Charisma 13 Skills: Choose three of the following skills as a permanent class skill. If a skill the character selects is already a class skill, he or she receives a +1 competence bonus on checks using that skill. Acrobatics, Bluff, Concentrate, Knowledge (Arcane Lore), Knowledge (Mysticism), Move Silently, Tumble, Perform (specific field), Search, Sense Motive, Sleight of Hand, Spot. Feats: Select one of the following to receive as a bonus feat. The character must meet any prerequisites. Combat Reflexes, Dancing Queen, Informant Network, Ninja Cutie, Shameless.
FEATS
Here are some feats suitable for Ninja Cuties.
DANCING QUEEN [Fast Hero, Bard, Fighter, Rogue]
You can dance, you can fight! Benefit: The character practices mixed martial arts. Add 1/2 of the character's ranks (round down) in the Perform [dance] skill to all melee attack rolls.
DANGER SENSE [General]
The character has an uncanny ability for sensing trouble just before it strikes. Benefit: You gain a +2 bonus to all Spot and Sense Motive skill checks.
SHADOW MELD [Fast Hero]
The character can use even the slightest shadow to "hide in plain sight." Prerequisite: Hide 6 ranks, Move Silently 6 ranks Benefit: When in an area that features at least some shadow, the character gains a +8 bonus to Hide skill checks.
SPECIALITY MARTIAL ARTIST [Fighter, Fast Hero, Strong Hero]
The character has mastered an unusual fighting style that turns normally harmless pursuits deadly. Prerequisite: Combat Martial Arts or Defensive Martial Arts Benefit: When this feat is selected, specify a Craft, Knowledge, or Perform skill. The character is a master of a fighting style that weaponizes that activity. You add ½ your number of ranks in the designated skill (round up) to your to-hit and damage rolls when making unarmed attacks. The character may use objects associated with the activity as improvised melee or ranged weapons without suffering a non-proficiency penalty. In general, the objects deal a base of 1d4 points of damage with a base crit range of 19-20. Special: You may select this feat multiple times. Each time, a different Craft, Knowledge, or Perform skill must be specified. You must declare which version of the feat (if any) the character is using at the beginning of each round if making a martial arts attack.
You've got a cheatin' bastard at your table? Meet him or her halfway with these new Meta feats for most d20 System games!
If You're Not Cheating, You're Not Trying [Fast Hero, Bard, Rogue, Metagaming]
Failure is not an option! Prerequisite: 3rd level Benefit: Each game session, you may ignore and re-roll any failed d20 roll a number of times equal to your character's Charisma bonus. You must tell the GM you want to re-roll, but it is the GM's responsibility to keep track of the number of times you use this ability. After all... you're a cheater, so you're going to get away with what you can!
Rules Are For Other People [Fast Hero, Bard, Rogue, Metagaming]
Gain any feat available to your race! Benefit: When you select this feat, you instantly trade it for any feat available for your character's race, ignoring all listed prerequisites. Special: if at any time in the future you meet the prerequisites for the feat traded for Rules Are For Other People, you may immediately select a new feat available for your character's race.
All text in this post is released under the Open Game License and may be reproduced within its terms. Copyright Steve Miller 2018.
And if you enjoyed this post, support our efforts by getting some of our actual products! It will encourage us to make more. Click here to see what we have for you!
How this collection of artifacts came into existence is unknown. They were first documented by paranormal investigator Marion K. Bassett when she was hired to inventory the belongings of occultist Ulysses Sheltner. Like most of the magical items that had been owned by Sheltner, they were stolen soon thereafter. The whereabouts of the artifacts are currently unknown.
CUFFLINKS OF PRESTIDIGITATION
This matched set of gold cufflinks, engraved with the initials U.S., give the wearer a +2 bonus to all Open Locks and Sleight of Hand skill checks, as well as a +1 bonus to all other Dexterity checks that involved manipulating small items and delicate equipment or machinery.
DIAMOND RING OF PERCEPTION
This broad, gold pinky ring with a diamond inset gives the wearer a +2 bonus to all Search and Spot skill checks.
FAT WALLET
This bulging alligator skin billfold increases the Wealth score of the person carrying it by 2.
POCKET WATCH OF TIMELINESS
This ornate pocket watc--with a flip-cover that sports a highly styalized pentagram and a face featuring small roman numerals--is on a 10-inch gold chain that must be fastened to an item of the character's clothing. When the watch on the chain is spun rapidly in a clockwise direction for a round, it puts the wearer under the effects of a haste spell for six rounds. When spun rapidly in a counter-clockwise direction, all other creatures within a 12-foot radius must roll Will saves of be subjected to the effects of a Slow spell for six rounds. The watch can only evoke a magical effect once every 12 hours, but it tells perfect time.
STICK PIN OF PERSONALITY
This golden stick pin has a small ruby in a sunburst-themed housing at its top. It provies the wearer with a +2 bonus to all Charisma-based skill checks.
The stick pin also can be used as an improvised weapon that deals a base of 1 point piercing damage. For purposes of resistances, it is a +1 weapon.
TOP COAT OF PROTECTION
This black overcoat grants the wearer a +1 bonus to Defense Rating, as well as a +2 bonus to all Fortitude saves made against damage from any elemental source (like the fireball or ice storm spells).
We've just released our latest supplement for the d20 System--Tricks of the Mind. It lets you add psychic powers (both real and fake) to your games that use feats and talents without needing to layer additional systems onto the game, like psionic points or keeping track of how many spells of which level per level. Click to get a copy, or see previews, at DriveThruRPG or RPGNow.
Since we like to do added value to our promo posts, here's a new starting occupation, for any all-new psychics you want to create! (The rest of this post is presented under the Open Game License. Copyright 2018 Steve Miller.)
STARTING PROFESSION: PSYCHIC
You either have a supernatural gift, or you have a talet for flim-flam. You may have been prepared for life as a professiona psychic from an early age, or it's a life you stumbled into. Either way, you were good at it--good at seeing people's inner needs and helping them through their problems... or maybe just helping seperate them from their money. Prerequisite: Age 18+ Skills: Choose two of the following skills as a permanent class skill. If a skill the character selects is already a class skill, he or she receives a +1 competence bonus on checks using that skill. Bluff, Concentrate, Knowledge (Arcane Lore), Knowledge (Mysticism), Move Silently, Perform (Acting), Search, Sense Motive, Sleight of Hand, Spot. Feats*: Select one of the following feats to receive as a bonus feat. The character must meet any prerequisites. Dream Viewer, Empathy, Foresight, Informant Network, Shameless.
*All feats listed are contained in Tricks of the Mind, but may also have appeared (possibly in a different form) on this blog or in other NUELOW Games releases.
Random ideas? We gots 'em here at NUELOW Games! (And for this one, all the text in this post is presented under the Open Game License. Copyright 2018 Steve Miller.)
Clone [General]
You've been cloned! Prerequisite: 4th level or higher Benefit: Just before this feat is chosen, make a copy of the character gaining it. This is a clone of the character. How a clone came to be is something that's left up the GM or the player (with GM approval) to figure out; perhaps this feat is offered as an option at the end of an adventure. (Maybe we'll do a random table as a companion to this feat at some point).
While the clone is superficiously identical to the character, there some differences.
First, the clone is one level lower than the character, with an XP total that's 1d2x1000 points short of gaining another level.
Second, a random attribute of the clone is different than the original character. Use the following table to determine which attribute by rolling 1d6 and then rolling a second time to see if the indicated attribute is higher or lower than that of the original character.
1.Strength (1-4. 1 attribute point lower; 5-6. 1 attribute point higher)
2. Dexterity (1-3. 1 attribute point lower; 4-6. 1 attribute point higher)
3. Constitition (1-4. 1 attribute point lower; 5-6. 1 attribute point higher)
4. Intelligence (1-3. 1 attribute point lower; 3-6. 1 attribute point higher)
5. Wisdom (1-4. 1 attribute point lower; 5-6. 1 attribute point higher)
6. Charisma (1-3. 1 attribute point lower; 4-6. 1 attribute point higher)
The clone's stats are adjusted as indicated by the die rolls, and any changes to attribute bonuses or skill points must be applied as well.
The clone can be used in a few different ways. Here are a few suggestions.
* The player can set it aside and keep it in reserve for if or when the main character dies. Then, the clone steps into that character's place and the world may never know what happened. (Again, the GM and player can decide where the clone is kept in the meantime and how it awakens once the original character is dead. The clone enters play at the level it was created at.)
* The player can alternate between the original character and the clone at will (or when the GM rules it makes sense for the two to swap). Each gains their own XP according to the adventures they take part in, and the clone advances like any other character. What sort of living arrangement the clone has, whether its existence is a known factor, and so on, are details to be worked out by the players and the GM.
* The clone can be a temporary character used by new players who want to try out the game.
* Whenever the player can't make a session, the GM runs the clone is his or her place.
There's a local pastor (or witch doctor or sorcerer, or druid--whatever fits the setting) who is offering to bless the party's firearms. Roll 1d12 against the chart below to see what benefit is gained, aside from each one blessed becoming an enchanted weapon.
1. +1 bonus to hit.
2. +1 bonus to damage.
3. +1 bonus to hit and damage.
4. Maximum damage against vampires.
5. Maximum damage against werewolves.
6. Maximum damage against dragons.
7. Maximum damage against mummies.
8. Damage dealt is converted to fire damage.
9. Person carrying or wielding the firemarm has a +2 bonus to Hide and Move Silently skill checks.
10. Person weilding the firearm has a -6 penalty to hit unarmed or non-threatening targets.
11. Person wielding the firearm bursts into flames (1d12+2 points of damage per round for 3 rounds) if it used against unarmed or non-threatening targets.
12. +4 to hit and damage against hostile creatures.
OPTIONAL COMPLICATION (Contributed by Craig Dixon)
There is one little problem with these blessed weapons...
If a person one is reduced to zero or fewer hit points while carrying or firing one of these blessed weapons, they must make an immediate Fort save (DC12) [save versus death in OSR versions of D&D].
If the saving throw succeeds, proceed with the normal stabalization rules to see if the character lives or dies.
If the saving throw fails, the character's soul is prevented from moving onto the afterlife. Instead, it is torn from te body and drawn to where the weapon was blessed, together with the magic placed on it, to feed the sponsoring deity. The character's soul is lost forever within 13 hours.
The weapon reverts to normal at this time and must be returned to the temple to be re-blessed.
--
The text in this post is released under the Open Game License and may be reproduced in accordance with it. Copyright Steve Miller 2018.
Nothing can throw a campaign off-kilter quicker than a TPK... and that's where the latest release from us here at NUELOW Games comes in!
Cover art by Dick Giordano
Hard to Kill: Feats and Talents for the d20 System provides character abilities and mechanics that will allow PCs to stare Death in the face and laugh. Even if Death shoves that laughter right back down their throats and causes them to explode in a fine mist of gore and bone shards, this booklet provides the means for the character with the right combination of feat to literally come back from the dead.
Hard to Killcontains five feats, four talent trees, and an add-on to the character generation system that gives a newly created character a random reason for why enemies shout, "Why won't you die?!" Although designed with d20 Modern in mind, this material is easily adapted to popular d20 System variants such as StarFinder, or any d20 System variant that uses feats and talents.
As an added bonus for those of you who have been following our comics/rpg hybrid products. Hard to Kill also expands further on the d20 Supers System that was introduced in Madden's Boys. (The material stands perfectly fine on its own, like the various game sections in the aforementioned comics/rpg hybrid books.)
Speaking of our comics/rpg hybrid releases, in Ghost Woman... Also Featuring Spooks, we included d20 System rules for keeping a player character active and in the hands of its player even AFTER death. Such a character isn't just hard to kill... because how do you kill someone who's already dead? (The rules also include a way to give a "second life" to a major villain who falls at the hands of the player characters.
Gamers are always going on about whether this or that RPG is realistic. Well, we aim to please here at NUELOW Games, so here are two feats that will make your d20 Modern games super ultra modern by bringing the feel of the world around us to your gaming table!
All text in this post is presented under the Open Game License and may be reproduced in accordance with its terms. Copyright 2017 Steve Miller
Alternative Fact [General, Metagaming]
You roll whatever you say you roll.
Benefit: Whenever you roll a failed saving throw, skill check, or attack you, you can invoke this feat and instead declare that you rolled a 20 (or any other possible result that you choose).
Special: Your character permanently loses 1 rank in the Diplomacy or Intimidate skill (your choice, or random roll by the DM/GM) whenever this feat is invoked. If the character has no ranks in either skill, it loses 250XP. (Using this feat CAN cause a character to lose a level if enough XP are spent.)
Protest [General, Metagaming]
Your dissatisfaction and hate may change the course of destiny!
Benefit: Whenever you roll a failed saving throw, skill check, or attack roll, you may invoke your right to protest. At this time, all normal actions and play stop. You roll a Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidate skill check (whichever is highest for the character) with a DC18. If this skill check is successful, play resumes at the point you failed the previous roll and you reroll as if the initial roll never happened,
Special: Each time you invoke this feat, all other players receive a -1 penalty to skill checks, saving throws, and attack rolls for the rest of the game session, just to make sure they understand how important it is that you get to win.
Venting Your Righteous Anger [General, Metagaming]
(from an idea by Scott Kankelborg) You're peaceful, and no one better dare say otherwise! Prerequisite: Protest Benefit: As Protest, but after the initial failed d20 roll, you may also break 1d4 common household items present in the home of whoever is hosting the game session. You or the GM may roll to determine how many. Special: If you ever attempt to compensate the other players for their loss you lose access to the Protest feat.
These feats should be added to the list of bonus feats available to the Hardcore Activist advanced class.
