Has anyone used the class? Was it overly strong? Weak? Any suggestions in changing it? I guess I want to hear from people who have DMed the Character and mayv=be some people who played. Thanks everyone.
The class has wonderful flavor, and I'm all in for campaign-specific classes (and feats, for that matters). Mechanically, as written, it is flexible but does not do good to almost any class. Especially spellcasters are driven off for CL "loss". For the paladin in my group, I have redone it; see below.
WORMHUNTER
“There were worms: In the ground, in the walls, even in the sky. Everywhere!”
- Pharun, Wormhunter
The spawn of Kyuss derive their power from the worm. The worm is their link to divinity, the source of their supernatural powers, and the means of their propagation. It is, in the absence of anything similar within their rotten frames, their soul. Without the worm, they are nothing.
Many before have turned to these strange and dangerous green worms, seeking knowledge or power. How is it that such a small thing can cause such great devastation, such unholy ruin in even the holiest of men? Those who find themselves confronting the spawn of Kyuss are frequently forced to adapt, to develop specialized techniques against these dangerous foes.
Fortunately, the lore of Kyuss can be tapped by those strong enough in mind and body to withstand the twisted workings of the worm. Though, a character who survives the worm’s caress is never wholly the same thereafter. The scars might heal, but as the worm gnaws upon the brain of a host, it leaves behind a part of itself. Memories, emotions, and fragments of knowledge that have sloughed off of Kyuss’ vast intellect find their way into the minds of these beings. Wormhunters constantly struggle to retain their sanity.
THE WORMHUNTER HIT DIE: D10
Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special Ability Spellcasting
1 +1 2 0 2 Kyussbane, Turn Undead +1 level of divine spellcasting class
2 +2 3 0 3 Detect minion, wormscarred
3 +3 3 1 3 Spiritual conduit, Insomnia +1 level of divine spellcasting class
4 +4 4 1 4 Wormeaten
5 +5 4 1 4 Smite undead, Fatalism +1 level of divine spellcasting class
Class skills (4+Int modifier per level): Craft, Concentration, Decipher Script, Heal, Knowledge (Religion), Profession, Sense Motive, Spellcraft.
BECOMING A WORMHUNTER
Wormhunters are determined warriors who know how to fight undead. Most of them are either paladins or multiclassed fighter/clerics. Rangers with the favored enemy: undead class feature sometimes enhance their ability to counter Kyuss minions, and once in a while, a martially oriented druid, perhaps with levels in barbarian, adapts this prestige class. Pure clerics or druids seldom take levels in the wormhunter prestige class, since it slows down their casting progression.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:
Base Attack Bonus: +10
Special: Must have at some point suffered a minimum of 4 points of intelligence damage from a Kyuss worm. These 4 points of Intelligence damage need not have occurred as a result of a single worm.
Special: Must have read through a copy of the Apostolic Scrolls.
CLASS FEATURES
All of the following are class features of the Wormhunter prestige class. A Wormhunter focuses on destroying minions of kyuss in all forms.
Kyussbane (Ex): A Wormhunter is particularly skilled at fighting against the minions of Kyuss. He gains a bonus on weapon damage rolls and checks to overcome spell resistance made against these creatures equal to his Wormhunter level.
Turn Undead (Su): You can add your levels in the Wormhunter prestige class to any other levels that grant you the turn undead class feature for determining its effects.
Spellcasting: At 1st, 3rd and 5th level, you gain new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and spells known, if applicable) as if you had also gained a level in a spellcasting class to which you belonged before adding the prestige class level. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If you had more than one divine spellcasting class before becoming a Wormhunter, you must decide to which class to add each level for the purpose of determining spells per day, caster level, and spells known.
Detect Minion (Sp): If you concentrate, you can sense the proximity of minions of Kyuss via a subtle tingling in your scars. This functions as the spell detect undead, but it only detects minions of Kyuss (be they undead or living). You may use this ability at will.
Wormscarred (Su): At second level, your body begins to develop patches of scarring. These scars are as much physical scars left from being infested by Kyuss worms as they are manifestations your constant struggle with the worm’s power. You need never fear infestation by Kyuss worm again – the worms interpret your scars as indication that you are already a pawn of Kyuss, and do not attempt to infest you.
Spiritual Conduit (Su): The worms have made your body more conductive to positive energy. All cure wounds spells cast on you function as if empowered. In addition, you take only half damage from negative energy.
Insomnia (Ex): You have extreme difficulty falling asleep, as you know that the worms can crawl out of the earth any time. In your dreams, Kyuss and his minions crawl all over the world. Each time you try to rest, you must succeed on a DC 20 Will save. Failure indicates that your sleep wasn’t restful, and you awaken fatigued.
Wormeaten (Su): At 4th level, you emulate the taint of Kyuss. This taint is detectable as a faint magic aura. It grants you a +2 bonus on all opposed checks made against minions of Kyuss, as they are strangely comforted and lulled by your aura. You also gain a +2 bonus on saving throws from any attack of a minion of Kyuss.
Smite Undead (Su): At 5th level, cure wounds spells now function as if maximised when cast on you. In addition, your body’s ability to conduct positive energy grows to an extent that you gain the ability to channel positive energy in sudden bursts of power when you strike a particularly solid blow against undead. This ability allows you to critically hit or sneak attack undead creatures as if they were living creatures.
Fatalism (ex): You are convinced the world is about to end, and that nothing can be done to prevent it. Only in company, you are willing to strive further. In encounters, you automatically delay until after another member of your party has acted, or after an opponent has attacked you, whichever comes first.
A member of our group played a wormhunter and he was a very solid PC he went in as a barbarian and the end his criting undead made him a real tank
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A member of our group played a wormhunter and he was a very solid PC he went in as a barbarian and the end his criting undead made him a real tank
I have had the same experience DM'ing a Ranger PC who took this prestige class. I allowed him to use a spell to simulate the ability to channel positive energy (bone talisman - found on the wotc boards) and his ability to critically hit undead has been a consistent source of strength for him and his group. As long as the cleric can keep everyone breathing we all know that sooner or later the Ranger will bring the bad guys down. It's just a matter of time.
So to answer your question, I have DM'ed a Wormhunter PC, it has been very advantageous to the party, bordering on unbalancing at times. But that just gives me an excuse to throw even more bad guys at them, right? We are about to reenter Alhaster, as the Dawn of a New Age begins, so we will see if his luck holds up.TtO
My party's PC paladin has had many brushes with the worms and plans on taking the prestige class. We're about to start Spire of Long Shadows, so he'll probably qualify soon. (He's had worms about five times now, but not taken any intelligence damage. I think he's going to have to be fascinated/horrified by the feeling of the worm eating his brain, then wait until the last minute to remove disease on himself, then he'll be ready.)
I agree that the class is a bit suboptimal for almost any type of PC, but the specific benefits vs. Kyuss creatures will become more and more useful as the game nears its end, and I think that balances it in this particular campaign. Some minor tweaking could be in order.