There's this idea that's been kicking around my brain for a while, and today I started writing it up: the Yule Shaman prestige class.
So far I have a bard-like class that concentrates on sorcery, with special spells, and little in the way of combat ability. I have some ideas for class abilities, but thought I'd come here to see if I can get some suggestions.
The Yule Shaman gets special spells, so I think a lot of ideas can be handled by putting spells on the Yule Shaman list, such as letting it snow (or even conjuring an ice storm) or summoning partridges in pear trees.
My notes are on my other computer, although I will eventually post the class in full here. What I have so far is something like the following:
Requirements: Lots of skills. 4 ranks in Performance, Bluff, Disguise, and 7 ranks in Spellcraft and Knowledge (Arcana). Good alignment.
Combat: Minimal. d6 hit dice, poor BAB, and no new weapon or armor proficiencies.
Spells: Full progression. Plus adds special Yule Shaman spells to the list of spells that can be cast, so perhaps this would count as a special ability on top of a full spell progression.
Ideas for class abilities:
* Being able to resist cold,
* Being able to conjure music like a bardic performance,
* Being able to trip people with a hooked reach weapon that does no damage,
* Minor control over the flow of time
I'd like to get away from "hokeyness" and towards a feeling that the Yule Shaman draws on power that predates the known religions. Anthropologists say that Santa Clause is one of the last remnants of European shamanism, so I think this could be a prestige class that can be taken seriously.
There's this idea that's been kicking around my brain for a while, and today I started writing it up: the Yule Shaman prestige class.
So far I have a bard-like class that concentrates on sorcery, with special spells, and little in the way of combat ability. I have some ideas for class abilities, but thought I'd come here to see if I can get some suggestions.
The Yule Shaman gets special spells, so I think a lot of ideas can be handled by putting spells on the Yule Shaman list, such as letting it snow (or even conjuring an ice storm) or summoning partridges in pear trees.
My notes are on my other computer, although I will eventually post the class in full here. What I have so far is something like the following:
Requirements: Lots of skills. 4 ranks in Performance, Bluff, Disguise, and 7 ranks in Spellcraft and Knowledge (Arcana). Good alignment.
Combat: Minimal. d6 hit dice, poor BAB, and no new weapon or armor proficiencies.
Spells: Full progression. Plus adds special Yule Shaman spells to the list of spells that can be cast, so perhaps this would count as a special ability on top of a full spell progression.
Ideas for class abilities:
* Being able to resist cold,
* Being able to conjure music like a bardic performance,
* Being able to trip people with a hooked reach weapon that does no damage,
* Minor control over the flow of timeI'd like to get away from "hokeyness" and towards a feeling that the Yule Shaman draws on power that predates the known religions. Anthropologists say that Santa Clause is one of the last remnants of European shamanism, so I think this could be a prestige class that can be taken seriously.
Santa only became red as a result of coke. The original holly and oak king wore blue and green. Just something for flavor... also the idea of the yule logs (one log from each sacred tree).
On a mechanical note, you could make it a combination of bard & druid, like arcane trickster or mystic theurge.
Interesting concept. However, it will be rather tricky to create the PrC, since the concept of Santa Claus is very diffuse in its origins. If memory helps, it goes something like this:
-Saint Nicholas of Myra, the most direct source of the tradition, was a bishop of ancient Christianity famous for his gifts and good mood. It is said that he would traverse the region in a donkey in order to give presents to the poor. Here is where the concept of the kind-hearted gift-bearing old man comes from.
-Odin, thought by some to have entered the tradition as well, was thought to have an 8-legged mount which he used to hunt through the skies, and would give children candy if they left their boots filled with food for his mount. This is probably from where the candy socks and reindeers come from. Also, there is the imagery of the long-bearded old man, though this is more questionable, since such picture could come from many different places.
-A lot of the elements currently associated with Santa Claus (such as the huge bag of gifts, the whole comming down the chimney to eat cookies and milk, the reindeers, et cetera) came up during the XIX century as the result of tales, novels and poems that circulated around those years. This makes identification of specific sources nigh-impossible.
From what you write, it seems you are mostly after pre-Christian German folklore figures?
Santa only became red as a result of coke. The original holly and oak king wore blue and green. Just something for flavor... also the idea of the yule logs (one log from each sacred tree).
Actually, even though it was Coca-Cola who made it the worldwide standard, the red colour is much older. In some parts of Europe, Santa Claus was depicted wearing canonical robes of white, gold and red, similar to what you can see in some of the outfits wore by the Pope. This is also why in Russia it is still depicted wearing blue, since that is the colour worn by bishops there.
Actually, even though it was Coca-Cola who made it the worldwide standard, the red colour is much older. In some parts of Europe, Santa Claus was depicted wearing canonical robes of white, gold and red, similar to what you can see in some of the outfits wore by the Pope. This is also why in Russia it is still depicted wearing blue, since that is the colour worn by bishops there.
Intersting, I hadn't heard that...
Actually, even though it was Coca-Cola who made it the worldwide standard, the red colour is much older. In some parts of Europe, Santa Claus was depicted wearing canonical robes of white, gold and red, similar to what you can see in some of the outfits wore by the Pope. This is also why in Russia it is still depicted wearing blue, since that is the colour worn by bishops there.Intersting, I hadn't heard that...
There is also a pagan figure thought to be a precurser to Santa who had antlers. Voila, reindeer.
Just a note that I haven't forgotten about this idea. I'll be busy the next few days, but maybe I'll get a chance to scratch some ideas down.
I like the ideas that are being brought up.
I think this was forgot in the Xmas rush. Just remember, you only have about 7 days left to rectify that.
Five...
Will the Yule Shaman come in before the end of Twelfth Night? Or will we have to wait until next year?