Pale Master
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
Special: 3 levels in an Arcane spellcasting class (Wizard, Sorcerer, or Bard)
Hit Die: d6
Proficiencies: Pale Masters gain no additional proficiencies
Skill Points: 2 + INT
Class Skills: Concentration, Craft, Decipher Script, Forgery, Heal, Hide, Knowledge (all), Listen, Lore, Move Silently, Persuade, Profession, Sense Motive, Spellcraft
Level progression
| Lvl | BAB | Saves | Feats | HP range | AC bonus | Undead summon | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort | Ref | Will | |||||||
| 1st | +0 | +2 | +0 | +2 | bone skin (+2AC) | 3-6 | +2 | ||
| 2nd | +1 | +3 | +0 | +3 | animate dead | 6-12 | +2 | ||
| 3rd | +1 | +3 | +1 | +3 | darkvision | 9-18 | +2 | ||
| 4th | +2 | +4 | +1 | +4 | summon undead, bone skin (+2AC) | 12-24 | +4 | ghoul (lesser) | |
| 5th | +2 | +4 | +1 | +4 | deathless vigor (+3HP) | 18-33 | +4 | ||
| 6th | +3 | +5 | +2 | +5 | undead graft, deathless vigor (+3HP) | 24-42 | +4 | shadow (lesser) | |
| 7th | +3 | +5 | +2 | +5 | tough as bone, deathless vigor (+3HP) | 30-51 | +4 | ghast (lesser) | |
| 8th | +4 | +6 | +2 | +6 | undead graft II, bone skin (+2AC), deathless vigor (+3HP) | 36-60 | +6 | wight (lesser) | |
| 9th | +4 | +6 | +3 | +6 | summon greater undead, deathless vigor (+3HP) | 42-69 | +6 | wraith (lesser), mummy warrior (greater) | |
| 10th | +5 | +7 | +3 | +7 | deathless master touch, deathless mastery, deathless vigor (+3HP) | 48-78 | +6 | spectre (greater) | |
Bonus spells
Upon reaching pale master levels 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9, the character gains new spells per day as if he had also gained a level in his highest caster class (bard, sorcerer or wizard). He does not learn any new spells through this ability, but for wizards it can allow higher-level spells to be learned through other means (i.e. from scrolls or later leveling as a wizard).
Tip: becoming a pale master
- Sorcerers and wizards make powerful pale masters. Additional spellcasting effectiveness (caster level) is sacrificed for a stronger defense (armor class and hit points).
Epic pale master
The pale master's bond with the undead continues to grow, as she becomes the epic pale master.
Hit die: d6
Skill points: 2 + int modifier
Bonus feats: The epic pale master gains a bonus feat every three levels (i.e., at levels 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, and 28).
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: epic mage armor, epic spell: epic warding, epic spell: greater ruin, epic spell: hellball, epic spell: mummy dust, improved combat casting
Bonus spells: The character continues to gain additional spells per day in his highest caster class at every odd pale master level, up to the maximum spells per day (at caster class level 20).
Unavailable epic feats:
bane of enemies,
construct shape, dragon shape,
epic weapon specialization, great smiting,
improved ki strike 4, improved ki strike 5, improved sneak attack,
improved spell resistance, improved stunning fist,
lasting inspiration, mighty rage, outsider shape,
planar turning, terrifying rage, thundering rage, undead shape
These general epic feats cannot be selected when taking a level of pale master.
Epic pale master level progression
| Lvl | Feats | HP range | AC Bonus | Undead Summon | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11th | 51-84 | +6 | |||
| 12th | bone skin (+2AC) | 54-90 | +8 | vampire rogue | |
| 13th | bonus feat | 57-96 | +8 | ||
| 14th | 60-102 | +8 | greater bodak | ||
| 15th | deathless vigor (+5HP) | 68-113 | +8 | ||
| 16th | bonus feat, bone skin (+2AC) | 71-119 | +10 | ghoul king | |
| 17th | 74-125 | +10 | |||
| 18th | 77-131 | +10 | vampire mage | ||
| 19th | bonus feat | 80-137 | +10 | ||
| 20th | bone skin (+2AC), deathless vigor (+5HP) | 88-148 | +12 | skeleton blackguard
| |
| 21th | 91-154 | +12 | |||
| 22th | bonus feat | 94-160 | +12 | lich | |
| 23th | 97-166 | +12 | |||
| 24th | bone skin (+2AC) | 100-172 | +14 | lich lord | |
| 25th | bonus feat, deathless vigor (+5HP) | 108-183 | +14 | ||
| 26th | 111-189 | +14 | alhoon | ||
| 27th | 114-195 | +14 | |||
| 28th | bonus feat, bone skin (+2AC) | 117-201 | +16 | alhoon elder | |
| 29th | 120-207 | +16 | |||
| 30th | deathless vigor (+5HP) | 128-218 | +16 | lesser demilich |
Special
Boneskin: AC improves by +2 for every four levels past level 8.
Undead graft: Can use this supernatural attack an additional time per day for every 3 epic levels gained.
Deathless vigor: Every five epic levels an additional +5 permanent hit points are gained.