Post by Kharn597 on Dec 26, 2005 1:17:51 GMT -5
Hey guys, recently acquired the Complete Warrior and Complete Divine D&D supplements and thought the descriptions of the classes had some great ideas for some people to rp their characters. I hope some of yall find this useful or interesting. This are my favorites that are about chivalric knights and holy warriors or keepers of the faith.
Knight of Chalice
Page 53 of the Complete Warrior D&D supplement
A knight of the Chalice is a member of an elite knightly organization devoted to fighting demons and other evil outsiders. Motivated by pious hatred of these creatures that embodies the principles of evil and routinely invade the Material Plane, knights of the Chalice learn tactics and gain special abilities to help them in their crusade.
A character who qualifies for entrance into the order of chalice is typically a paladin/ranger or cleric/ranger. Characters with minimal levels as a ranger/cleric or ranger/paladin can qualify even if they have more levels in other classes – rouge, fighter, and even wizard or sorcerer. Wizards and sorcerers rarely drawn to the order’s crusade, and cannot qualify as knights until reaching high levels. Few monks or bards have enough dedication to exterminating demons to take up this class.
Knights of the Chalice are often lone crusaders, maintaining only loose connections to their order. NPC knights sometimes gather adventuring bands around themselves for combat support. A knight of the chalice could temporary ally of a group of adventurers while the party is engaged in a campaign against a demon.
Alignment: Lawful Good
Knight Protector
Page 55 of the Complete Warrior D&D supplement
The few, the proud, the knight protectors are martial characters dedicated to restoring the ideals of knightly chivalry before they fade forever. The protectors see moral decay everywhere they look in the world around them, brought on by a lapse in ethical behavior. Like paladins, knight protectors adhere to a rigid code of behavior that embraces such values as honor, honesty, chivalry, and courage. Unlike paladins, the first duty of knight protectors is to this code and the ideals for which it stands, rather then to a deity or a holy order. A protector is expected to display these ideals in all aspects of his behavior and throughout all his actions and deeds, however arduous they may be.
Many knight protectors come from backgrounds of honor and loyalty, such as other orders of chivalry or the service of a powerful master. Paladins and ex-paladins are the most common knight protectors, and cleric of lawful deities(such as St. Cuthbert or Heironeous) as well as fighters seeking a higher ideal often find much to appreciate in the knight protector’s code of conduct. Members of most other classes, particularly spell casters, lack either the interest or the dedication to pursue this path.
NPC knight protectors are often found wandering alone, looking for worthy people to protect or idealistic lords to serve. What little bond or organization exist between knight protectors is extremely strong – whether a knight protector was once a baron, lowly liegeman, or a samurai, each feels a kinship to his compatriots and a longing for better days.
Alignment: Lawful Neutral or Lawful Good
Church Inquisitor
Page 26 of the Complete Divine D&D supplement
While Many champions of good are dedicated to fighting forces of evil that are external to them and their church – as clerics and paladins of Heironeous are devoted to destroying followers of hextor – the church inquisitor is at least as concerned about evil and corruption within. When greed eats away at a church hierarchy, when devils infiltrate a knightly order and seduce its leaders to evil, when high clerics succumb to evil enchantments and fall from the path of their deities, it is usually a church inquisitor who uncovers this kind of taint and cuts it away.
Church inquisitors specialize in divination (to seek out evil and corruption) and abjuration (to protect themselves and others from evil magic). They are most often drawn from clerics or paladins of a lawful church or order. Members of other classes usually find it difficult to meet the requirements of the prestige class, and rarely have the incentive to do so.
Player characters might encounter NPC church inquisitors if they are involved in a lawful church or order – perhaps even as subjects of the inquisitor’s investigation. Church inquisitors are particularly likely to appear after incidents involving demons or devils, since they combat the widespread corruption these creatures tend to leave in their wake.
Adaptation: As written, this prestige class isn’t specific to a deity or organization – but in your campaign it certainly could be. Perhaps a particular church has an “Order of the Whatchful Eye” that functions as an internal-affairs department for the paladins and clerics in other orders. Or a theocracy might have an FBI-style organization full of church inquisitors that investigate demon-spawned crimes across the nation.
Alingment: Lawful Good and Lawful Neutral
Divine Crusader
Page 33 of the Complete Divine D&D supplement
The divine crusader embodies devotion and dedication to a chosen deity. Even more than a cleric, the divine crusader serves as a symbol of a specific aspect of his deity’s portfolio, such as fire, good, knowledge or war. They serve as elite godservants, carrying out the deity’s will and furthering the deity’s aims.
Paladins make good divine crusaders, as do clerics (particularly those of martial-minded deities). However, characters of many other classes find great spiritual rewards from the path of divine crusader, including fighters, barbarians, monks, rangers, and rouges.
NPC divine crusaders typically work side-by-side with others who share their devotion, such as clerics or other divine crusaders. They get along well with the other crusaders who share the same deity (even if their chosen domains differ), and some even ally themselves with divine crusaders who share a domain but not a diety, though alignments must be similar as well (divine crusaders of Corellon Larethians and Gruumsh don’t get along, even if both share War domain).
Alingment: must match chosen deity
Hospitaler
Page 48 of the Complete Divine D&D supplement
Hospitalers are fighting force of necessity, sworn to poverty, obedience, and the defense of those in their care. It is the duty of knights hospitaler to protect people traveling on religious pilgrimages. Over the years, this single duty has expanded to include the instruction and administration of hospitals and refugee facilities.
Most Hispitalers are paladins, though rangers, fighter/cleric and even ranger/clerics often join the knights hospitaler as well.
NPC hospitalers often travel in groups, usually with pilgrims on their way to or from a site of particular importance to their faith. Hospitalers may be found running pilgrim hostels, defending temple hospitals, or standing vigil over religious relics and sites. They seldom go on quests or adventures except to rescue endangered pilgrims or to recover relics or sites from heretics and unbelievers.
Adaptation: Hospitalers do battle against suffering and pain whenever they find it. In your campaign, large cities may house masses of beggars who are seen to by itinerant hospitalers. A small village may also house a hospitaler who serves as a doctor of sorts to those who need his attention. An entire force of hospitalers may gather together in order to fight an evil dragon and then remain afterwards in order to care for the local townsfolk injured during the battle.
Alignment: Any nonchaotic.
Sacred Exorcist
Page 56-57 of the Complete Divine D&D supplement
Through elaborate rites that may include dancing, drumming, beating a possessed person on the soles of their feet, liberal use of holy water, or many other means, sacred exorcist hope to drive away the spiritual forces of evil, preventing them from causing harm to the bodies and the souls of humanity. Sacred exorcist are serious about their work and very devoted to their religion. Not all of them are dour and grim, most are. Their determination to combat the forces of evil in the world – along with their special ability to do so – more than makes up for their lack of humor.
Most sacred exorcist are clerics or paladins who are specifically trained by their church for the work they are called to do. Most churches select only those who have shown a clear dedication to the work of opposing evil outsiders, as well as exemplary faith and devotion. Occasionally, a wizard qualifies to fill this role in a church that is tolerant toward arcane magic, but members of other classes rarely become sacred exorcist.
NPC sacred exorcists are usually loners who travel from city to city in the service of their church. As highly specialized professionals, their services are frequently in demand, though few cities would have need for a full-time sacred exorcist.
Adaptation: As written, the prestige class mandates the sanction of a church or order, and it indicates that sacred exorcist are loners. You could reverse either of those elements; sacred exorcist could function independently of a larger organization (or even be castoffs from the large church). Maybe teams of exorcists (with paladin and arcane spellcaster backup) patrol the land, seeking out hidden evil wherever it may gather.
Alingment: Any Good
Knight of Chalice
Page 53 of the Complete Warrior D&D supplement
A knight of the Chalice is a member of an elite knightly organization devoted to fighting demons and other evil outsiders. Motivated by pious hatred of these creatures that embodies the principles of evil and routinely invade the Material Plane, knights of the Chalice learn tactics and gain special abilities to help them in their crusade.
A character who qualifies for entrance into the order of chalice is typically a paladin/ranger or cleric/ranger. Characters with minimal levels as a ranger/cleric or ranger/paladin can qualify even if they have more levels in other classes – rouge, fighter, and even wizard or sorcerer. Wizards and sorcerers rarely drawn to the order’s crusade, and cannot qualify as knights until reaching high levels. Few monks or bards have enough dedication to exterminating demons to take up this class.
Knights of the Chalice are often lone crusaders, maintaining only loose connections to their order. NPC knights sometimes gather adventuring bands around themselves for combat support. A knight of the chalice could temporary ally of a group of adventurers while the party is engaged in a campaign against a demon.
Alignment: Lawful Good
Knight Protector
Page 55 of the Complete Warrior D&D supplement
The few, the proud, the knight protectors are martial characters dedicated to restoring the ideals of knightly chivalry before they fade forever. The protectors see moral decay everywhere they look in the world around them, brought on by a lapse in ethical behavior. Like paladins, knight protectors adhere to a rigid code of behavior that embraces such values as honor, honesty, chivalry, and courage. Unlike paladins, the first duty of knight protectors is to this code and the ideals for which it stands, rather then to a deity or a holy order. A protector is expected to display these ideals in all aspects of his behavior and throughout all his actions and deeds, however arduous they may be.
Many knight protectors come from backgrounds of honor and loyalty, such as other orders of chivalry or the service of a powerful master. Paladins and ex-paladins are the most common knight protectors, and cleric of lawful deities(such as St. Cuthbert or Heironeous) as well as fighters seeking a higher ideal often find much to appreciate in the knight protector’s code of conduct. Members of most other classes, particularly spell casters, lack either the interest or the dedication to pursue this path.
NPC knight protectors are often found wandering alone, looking for worthy people to protect or idealistic lords to serve. What little bond or organization exist between knight protectors is extremely strong – whether a knight protector was once a baron, lowly liegeman, or a samurai, each feels a kinship to his compatriots and a longing for better days.
Alignment: Lawful Neutral or Lawful Good
Church Inquisitor
Page 26 of the Complete Divine D&D supplement
While Many champions of good are dedicated to fighting forces of evil that are external to them and their church – as clerics and paladins of Heironeous are devoted to destroying followers of hextor – the church inquisitor is at least as concerned about evil and corruption within. When greed eats away at a church hierarchy, when devils infiltrate a knightly order and seduce its leaders to evil, when high clerics succumb to evil enchantments and fall from the path of their deities, it is usually a church inquisitor who uncovers this kind of taint and cuts it away.
Church inquisitors specialize in divination (to seek out evil and corruption) and abjuration (to protect themselves and others from evil magic). They are most often drawn from clerics or paladins of a lawful church or order. Members of other classes usually find it difficult to meet the requirements of the prestige class, and rarely have the incentive to do so.
Player characters might encounter NPC church inquisitors if they are involved in a lawful church or order – perhaps even as subjects of the inquisitor’s investigation. Church inquisitors are particularly likely to appear after incidents involving demons or devils, since they combat the widespread corruption these creatures tend to leave in their wake.
Adaptation: As written, this prestige class isn’t specific to a deity or organization – but in your campaign it certainly could be. Perhaps a particular church has an “Order of the Whatchful Eye” that functions as an internal-affairs department for the paladins and clerics in other orders. Or a theocracy might have an FBI-style organization full of church inquisitors that investigate demon-spawned crimes across the nation.
Alingment: Lawful Good and Lawful Neutral
Divine Crusader
Page 33 of the Complete Divine D&D supplement
The divine crusader embodies devotion and dedication to a chosen deity. Even more than a cleric, the divine crusader serves as a symbol of a specific aspect of his deity’s portfolio, such as fire, good, knowledge or war. They serve as elite godservants, carrying out the deity’s will and furthering the deity’s aims.
Paladins make good divine crusaders, as do clerics (particularly those of martial-minded deities). However, characters of many other classes find great spiritual rewards from the path of divine crusader, including fighters, barbarians, monks, rangers, and rouges.
NPC divine crusaders typically work side-by-side with others who share their devotion, such as clerics or other divine crusaders. They get along well with the other crusaders who share the same deity (even if their chosen domains differ), and some even ally themselves with divine crusaders who share a domain but not a diety, though alignments must be similar as well (divine crusaders of Corellon Larethians and Gruumsh don’t get along, even if both share War domain).
Alingment: must match chosen deity
Hospitaler
Page 48 of the Complete Divine D&D supplement
Hospitalers are fighting force of necessity, sworn to poverty, obedience, and the defense of those in their care. It is the duty of knights hospitaler to protect people traveling on religious pilgrimages. Over the years, this single duty has expanded to include the instruction and administration of hospitals and refugee facilities.
Most Hispitalers are paladins, though rangers, fighter/cleric and even ranger/clerics often join the knights hospitaler as well.
NPC hospitalers often travel in groups, usually with pilgrims on their way to or from a site of particular importance to their faith. Hospitalers may be found running pilgrim hostels, defending temple hospitals, or standing vigil over religious relics and sites. They seldom go on quests or adventures except to rescue endangered pilgrims or to recover relics or sites from heretics and unbelievers.
Adaptation: Hospitalers do battle against suffering and pain whenever they find it. In your campaign, large cities may house masses of beggars who are seen to by itinerant hospitalers. A small village may also house a hospitaler who serves as a doctor of sorts to those who need his attention. An entire force of hospitalers may gather together in order to fight an evil dragon and then remain afterwards in order to care for the local townsfolk injured during the battle.
Alignment: Any nonchaotic.
Sacred Exorcist
Page 56-57 of the Complete Divine D&D supplement
Through elaborate rites that may include dancing, drumming, beating a possessed person on the soles of their feet, liberal use of holy water, or many other means, sacred exorcist hope to drive away the spiritual forces of evil, preventing them from causing harm to the bodies and the souls of humanity. Sacred exorcist are serious about their work and very devoted to their religion. Not all of them are dour and grim, most are. Their determination to combat the forces of evil in the world – along with their special ability to do so – more than makes up for their lack of humor.
Most sacred exorcist are clerics or paladins who are specifically trained by their church for the work they are called to do. Most churches select only those who have shown a clear dedication to the work of opposing evil outsiders, as well as exemplary faith and devotion. Occasionally, a wizard qualifies to fill this role in a church that is tolerant toward arcane magic, but members of other classes rarely become sacred exorcist.
NPC sacred exorcists are usually loners who travel from city to city in the service of their church. As highly specialized professionals, their services are frequently in demand, though few cities would have need for a full-time sacred exorcist.
Adaptation: As written, the prestige class mandates the sanction of a church or order, and it indicates that sacred exorcist are loners. You could reverse either of those elements; sacred exorcist could function independently of a larger organization (or even be castoffs from the large church). Maybe teams of exorcists (with paladin and arcane spellcaster backup) patrol the land, seeking out hidden evil wherever it may gather.
Alingment: Any Good