Pale Master

Pale Master (Prestige Class)

Hit Die: d6

Base Attack Bonus: +1/2 levels

Proficiencies: None

Skill Points: 2 + INT modifier

Class Skills: Concentration Craft Armor Craft Trap Craft Weapon Heal Hide Listen Lore Move Silently Persuade Spellcraft

Primary Saving Throw(s): Fortitude Will

Alignment Restriction: Any Non-Good

Description

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, without losing too much of their arcane power. Enter the pale master, who draws on a font of special lore that provides a macabre power all its own.

Requirements

Alignment: Any non-good

Arcane Spellcasting: Level 3 or higher

Level Progression

Lvl	BAB	Saves			Feats		AC   bonus	Undead summon	Base Class Arcane   Casting Progression
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+0	+2	+0	+2	Bone Skin		+2		+1 caster level Spells/day gained
2nd	+1	+3	+0	+3	Animate Dead		+2
3rd	+1	+3	+1	+3	Darkvision		+2		+1 caster level Spells/day gained
4th	+2	+4	+1	+4	Summon Undead		+4	Ghoul (lesser)
5th	+2	+4	+1	+4	Deathless Vigor		+4		+1 caster level Spells/day gained
6th	+3	+5	+2	+5	Undead Graft I		+4	Shadow (lesser)
7th	+3	+5	+2	+5	Tough as Bone		+4	Ghast (lesser)	+1 caster level Spells/day gained
8th	+4	+6	+2	+6	Undead Graft II		+6	Wight (lesser)
9th	+4	+6	+3	+6	Summon Greater Undead		+6	Wraith (lesser) Mummy Warrior (greater)	+1 caster level Spells/day gained
10th	+5	+7	+3	+7	Deathless Master Touch Deathless Mastery		+6	Spectre (greater)

Selectable Class Feats: Ambidexterity, Deflect Arrows

Epic Pale Master

Lvl	Feats		AC   Bonus	Undead Summon	Base Class Arcane   Casting Progression
11th			+6		+1 caster level Spells/day gained
12th			+8	Vampire Rogue
13th	Bonus feat		+8		+1 caster level Spells/day gained
14th			+8	Greater Bodak
15th			+8		+1 caster level Spells/day gained
16th	Bonus feat		+10	Ghoul King
17th			+10		+1 caster level Spells/day gained
18th			+10	Vampire Mage
19th	Bonus feat		+10		+1 caster level Spells/day gained
20th			+12	Skeleton Blackguard
21th			+12		+1 caster level Spells/day gained
22th	Bonus feat		+12	Lich
23th			+12		+1 caster level Spells/day gained
24th			+14	Lich Lord
25th	Bonus feat		+14		+1 caster level Spells/day gained
26th			+14	Alhoon
27th			+14		+1 caster level Spells/day gained
28th	Bonus feat		+16	Alhoon Elder
29th			+16		+1 caster level Spells/day gained
30th			+16	Lesser Demilich

Epic Bonus Feats: Automatic Quicken Spell, Automatic Silent Spell, Automatic Still Spell, Epic Energy Resistance, Epic Spell Focus, Epic Spell Penetration, Epic spell: dragon knight, Epic spell: greater ruin, Epic spell: hellball, Epic spell: epic mage armor, Epic spell: mummy dust, Epic spell: epic warding, Improved Combat Casting

Epic Selectable Class Feats: Blinding Speed

Spellcasting

Every odd level, a pale master progresses in his knowledge of magic as if having gained one level in his primary casting class. This progress is in terms of spell levels and spell slots available. A wizard can learn from scrolls to add spells to his or her spellbook in order to take advantage of new spell levels. A sorcerer or bard, however, will have to level again as a sorcerer or bard in order to learn spells for these new levels. New spell slots can still be filled by preparing spells already known with metamagic feats, however.

In standard NWN, this progression does not affect caster level, which can determine damage, duration, and spell penetration. In Avlis, hooked spells take pale master levels into account for determining caster level - one caster level per two pale master levels (every odd level). However, this only affects damage and duration for hooked spells, dispelling another caster's spells, and spell penetration, but not dispel resistance.

Summon Control

The Pale Master has some ability to select the creature summoned by the summon undead abilities. This is a sub-feature of the overrall Summon Control system.

Notes

• Pale Masters can take Epic Spells at level 15 even if they only have 3 levels of an arcane class. They can also take epic spells with Epic Bonus Feats (after level 15) provided they meet the Spellcraft requirements. The duration of the spells will be based on Pale Master levels.
• At 6th level an Avlis Pale Master gets a +4 bonus to strength per standard D&D rule. As of NWN:EE, the strength bonus no longer counts towards the +12 Ability Cap but instead is added as an inherent bonus.
• Previously, before 5/31/2023, Pale Masters were considered an Advanced Magic Specialization, and thus ineligible for another. As of that date this is no longer the case. Pale Masters remain a Prestige Class (PrC) and thus require Team pre-approval to also pursue an AMS. As with any other character with a PRC, if you're interested in applying for an AMS, please PM the Event DM team with the particular details of your character and your plans on how to roleplay the combination. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.