Rules to Live By

Races - Classes - Languages - Feats

Obviously, or perhaps not so obviously, Church and State uses Dungeons and Dragons 3rd Edition rules, coupled with concoctions for how to determing objectively the growth of a city over the years (under Systems).  What follows, are my additions or changes to base D&D Rules

Races

For the most part, especially at the beginning, characters in this game will be human.  Racism runs rampant in Aladagia, spurred on by the fact that the most present enemy to the Council Lands are all non-human.  While theoretically Dwarves and Elves are supported by the Council, most have chosen to withdraw and the ones that are still around are in isolated communities and otherwise little more than fairy tales to most humans.  Some clans may have some other racial blood in their stock, but not enough to alter traits any from full humans.  If you absolutely have to play a character of other-racial stock you can throw me a pitch, but the social stigma will far outweigh the benefits of the race.

Classes

The only class I am disallowing at this time is the Monk, since it adds an Eastern feel that is not present in the setting.  Other class information follows.

• Barbarians - Mostly the province of Clan Icemist, some rural areas may be able to create a barbarian or two, but will be very uncommon.
• Bard - Common throughout, those who hear the call of the Bard are especially common in Clans Moonthorn, Windsong, Darkblood, and Goldmere.
• Cleric - One of the most common classes, Clerics of the Council Lands may choose to worship one of 19 gods.  Each particular diety has a different requirement for priests.
• Druid - A specialty priest of Earthmother or Wildstalker, Druids are the majority priests of Nature and common on the Hunt but otherwise not often present.
• Fighter - Ever common, those who choose to fight are no doubt the single most common class.
• Paladin - Rare but present, Paladins typically follow Skydancer or Oathbinder.
• Ranger - Hailing from the forests, Rangers typically come from such families as Cragwalker, Icemist, and Silverdust.  They typically pay at least lip service worship of Wildstalker.
• Rogue - Perhaps as common as Fighters, but better at concealing their numbers.  People would like to say that Blacksteel harbors most of these, but they are present in all families.
• Sorcerer - A rarity, Sorcerers come from mostly the touched families, Moonthorn, Darkblood, Stormraven, Deathknell, and Bonecry.
• Wizard - Very respected in the Council Lands, Wizardry is a profession taken up by many bright youths.  However, schools of wizardry are far from common, and they guard their secrets jealously, forcing prospective wizards to jump through any number of hoops.

Prestige Classes

Some, none, or all of the Prestige Classes from the DMG might be used, but rest assured that I'll be hard at work making quite a few others to add here.

Languages

It should be noted that though the Council trys to keep a stable language base, linguistics can and do drift.  So while speakers of different dialects of Aladagian (common) can understand each other with an Intelligence check, it's much easier to buy the seperate dialects with Intelligence or skill points.  Each character starts with his or her dialect rather than simply Common, and the various Dialects are:  

• Border (the language that is mixed with Orcish termonology, generally disdained by civilized people)
• Kentish (a martial tongue, spoken with a Scottish accent)
• Council (the 'proper' Aladagian spoken in the Council city, spoken with a British accent)
• Plains (the tongue from the south council lands, spoken with no accent)
• Arkandite (a clipped religious tongue, spoken in a germanic accent)

Some records still keep Elvish and Dwarvish on the books, but unless two slots are spent into them they sound odd and obviously book-studied.  Lastly, most religious texts are kept in Divine and magical writings are in Ritual.  Other languages that may be of value in the campaign have included Flind, Orc, Sirine, and Draconic.

New Feats

These feats are subject to playtesting and all with a requirement of Touched are completely up to story-based approval.

Touched [Special]

You have been touched by the magic of the world.
Prerequisites: This may only be taken at DM approval.
Benefit: Treat the ability of your choice as one higher than its actual rating.

Dragon Blood [Special]

Somewhere in your ancestry is one of the wyrms.  Unparalleled masters of Sorcery, you share in some of this sorcerous ability.
Prerequisites: This may only be taken at DM approval.
Benefit: Sorcerer is considered an extra Favored Class.  Additionally, you may apply the effects of any one of the following metamagic feats to any one of your Arcane spells once per day on casting, without knowing the metamagic feat or altering the spell's effective level for preparation:  Enlarge Spell, Extend Spell, Silent Spell, or Still Spell.

Lucky [General]

Through some draw of fate, you are luckier than normal individuals.
Benefit: As halflings, you gain +1 to all saves.

• Graceful Fumble [General]

  You are adept at staving off your mishaps until a better time.
  Prerequisites: Lucky
  Benefit: Whenever you Fumble an attack or check you may choose to delay the effect of the Fumble up to five rounds after the mishap.

  Blessed [General]

  Beyond those around you, the world shields you from its pains.
  Prerequisites: Lucky, Touched
  Benefit: You may reroll one failed roll per session, or turn a fumble into a failure.
  

  • Fated [General]

    Fate has something special in store for you.
    Prerequisites: Blessed, Lucky, Touched
    Benefit: You can add a +6 circumstance bonus to one roll of your choice per session.

Sense Arcane [General]

Your senses are improved to the point that you can sometimes detect the arcane around you.
Prerequisites: Arcane spellcaster or Touched
Benefit: You may make a spot check to determine if something or someone is touched by Arcane magic, or to detect when such is used in your vicinity.

• Dodge Arcane [General]

  You have an uncanny ability to avoid spells and other arcane effects.
  Prerequisites: Sense Arcane, Character Level 3rd+
  Benefit: You gain +4 to saves against Arcane effects.
  

  • Enhance Arcane [General]

    Whether they be spell or item, things Arcane are aided by your touch.
    Prerequisites: Dodge Arcane, Sense Arcane, Character Level 7th+
    Benefit: You gain +1 to any rolls associated with your activation of Arcane effects.
    

    • Arcane Surge [General]

      Your attunement with the Arcane allows you to manefest it randomly.
      Prerequisites: Enhance Arcane, Dodge Arcane, Sense Arcane, Character Level 11th+
      Benefit: As a full round action you may take 1d10-1 temporary Constitution ability damage and manefest a random Arcane spell of the same level that is to your benefit.

Sense Divine [General]

You are in touch with the aura of the gods and may sense their presence in all things.
Prerequisites: Divine Spellcaster or Touched
Benefit: You may make a spot check to determine if something or someone is touched by Divine magic, or to detect when such is used in your vicinity, and may make a Wisdom check to determine if any Gods have manefested nearby.

• Aided [General]

  You have attuned yourself to divine energies to your benefit.
  Prerequisites: Sense Divine, Character Level 3rd+
  Benefit: As Lucky.
  

  • Graced [General]

    You may call down divine energy.
    Prerequisites: Aided, Sense Divine, Character Level 7th+
    Benefit: As Extra Turning, granting the four turns to non-priests as a cleric of three levels lower than actual character level.
    

    • Consort [General]

      You have trained yourself to become an ideal host for manefesting the divine on earth.
      Prerequisites: Graced, Aided, Sense Divine, Character Level 11th+
      Benefit: You serve as an ideal host for whatever diety you favor and may make a Will save to resist use by any other power.

[Elemental] Dance [General]

You have learned to avoid the worst effects of elemental magic.
Prerequisites: Touched or Elementalist in appropriate element or its oppostion
Benefit: You gain +4 to saves against elemental magic of the appropriate element.
Special: This may be taken only once, in one type of element that may not change. The allowable elements are Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Positive, and Negative.

• [Elemental] Focus [General]

  Prerequisites: [Elemental] Dance in appropriate or opposition element
  Benefit: You add +2 to all rolls concerning elemental magic (spell or item) of the appropriate element.
  

  • [Elemental] Mastery [General]

    Prerequisites: [Elemental] Focus in appropriate or opposition element
    Benefit: You take half effect of harmful effects and double beneficial effects of the appropriate element.

  Savant [General]

  You are even better at a skill.
  Prerequisite: Skill focus in appropriate skill.
  Benefit: Additional +4 bonus in improved skill (+6 total)
  Special: This may be taken multiple times for different skills.
  

  • Oracle [General]

    You are the unconscious master of a skill.
    Prerequisite: Skill focus and Savant in appropriate skill.
    Benefit: Additional +6 bonus in improved skill (+12 total)
    Special: This may be taken multiple times for different skills.

Weapon Focus [General-Revision]

Same as the normal feat of the same name.
Prerequisites: Proficient with weapon
Benefit: Same as the normal feat of the same name.

• Weapon Specialization [General-Revision]

  As the Fighter feat of the same name.
  Prerequisites: Weapon Focus in weapon, +4 Attack Bonus
  Benefit: As the Fighter feat of the same name.
  

  • Weapon Excellence [Fighter Only]

    You have trained yourself to be an expert in your weapon
    Prerequisites: Weapon Specialization in weapon, Fighter level 6+
    Benefit: +2 additional Attack with weapon, treat weapon as one plus higher for bypassing damage reduction, +4 resistance to disarm attempts.
    

    • Weapon Mastery [Fighter Only]

      You are among the foremost masters of your weapon in the lands.
      Prerequisites: Weapon Excellence in weapon, Fighter level 9+
      Benefit: +2 additional Damage with weapon (+4 total), +1 to critical range (added last, after Keen and Improved Critical) or +1 to critical multiplier for weapon (added last, after any other increases)(character's choice), may call shots to temporarily wound body areas.

  Two-handed Excellence [General]

  You've learned to compensate for your lack of shield when wielding a two-handed weapon by dodging and using the weapon to parry stray blows.
  Prerequisite: Weapon focus in any two-handed weapon.
  Benefit: +1 Dodge bonus to AC when wielding a two-handed weapon.
  

  • Two-handed Mastery [General]

    You are even better at fighting with both hands full of weapon.  You move your body to aid the recovery from your weapon swings, being back on guard nearly instantly.
    Prerequisite: Two-handed Excellence.
    Benefit: Additional +2 Dodge bonus to AC (+3 total) when using a two-handed weapon, and a +1 to initiative score when using a two-handed melee weapon.

• Weapon Balance [General]

  You have trained yourself to handle the weight of matched dual-wielded weapons in order to fight more effectively with two weapons of your own size.
  Prerequisite: Ambidexterity, Two-Weapon Fighting, BaB +6 or better
  Benefit: When two-weapon fighting with weapons of the same type and the same weight, you may treat your off-hand weapon as small even if it is not (as long as it is still small enough for you to use it one-handed) for the purposes of attack penalties.  The weapons must be of the same type (e.g. longsword, battle axe, heavy mace, etc.) and the same weight (e.g. no matched mithril and adamantine blades).

• Two-Weapon Mastery [General]

  You have mastered the art of two-weapons, allowing you to fight unpenalized in most circumstances.
  Prerequisite: Ambidexterity, Two-Weapon Fighting, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, BaB 10+
  Benefit: When fighting with two weapons you gain an additional +2/+2 to offset two-hand penalties (to a maximum of -0).  As such, you should suffer no penalty when using a small or Weapon Balance appropriate off-hand weapon.

• Dervish [General]

  You are a master of spinning death, able to use your off-hand weapon just as quickly as your primary weapon.
  Prerequisite: Ambidexterity, Two-Weapon Fighting, Improved Two-Weapon Fighting, BaB 11+
  Benefit: When fighting with two weapons you may make as many iterative attacks with your off-hand weapon as your BaB allows you to your primary weapon.  For example, a character with a +11 BaB  gains +11/+6/+1 attacks (plus modifiers) with his primary weapon and the same (plus a different set of modifiers) with his off hand weapon.  If that character were to reach +16 BaB he would gain four attacks with each weapon.

  Shielded Advance [General]

  You are capable of using your shield to brace against an attacker's opportunistic strikes.
  Prerequisite: Shield Proficiency, BaB 4+
  Benefit: As a free action at any time during your turn you may designate a single opponent, much like with the Dodge feat, to protect against Attacks of Opportunities. That opponent cannot target you with Attacks of Opportunity until you cease using Shield Rush or are incapacitated. Until you declare that you are no longer guarding against that opponent specifically you lose your shield's AC bonus against all other attackers. This requires a Large or Tower shield for full effectiveness. If using a Small shield, AoO's are still prevented, but shield AC is also lost against the target. This will not work at all with a buckler.

  Shielded Charge [General]

  You are capable of using your shield to make up for the lack of balance suffered from charging.
  Prerequisite: Shield Proficiency, BaB 5+
  Benefit: If using a shield of size greater than a buckler you may use the Charge action without incurring the normal -2 AC penalty as you use the balance and cover of the shield to compensate for inertia.

  Hero on the Half Shell [General]

  You are capable of using your shield to avoid the worst of area effect attacks by hiding underneath it.
  Prerequisite: Shield Proficiency, Character Level 5+
  Benefit: You gain access to the benefits of the Evasion special ability when using a shield, and to the Improved Evasion feat when using a Tower shield. However, if you choose to gain these benefit of this feat on a particular effect, you end the effect prone (having fallen under your shield). You must have a solid floor underneath you to use this feat, and must be able to fall under your shield (e.g. not prone, immobalized, grappled, etc.). Shield enhancement bonuses add to your Reflex save when using this feat.