I have never attempted anything like a class design before so here goes nothing. I used the cleric's template as far as BAB, ATT/Round and Saves. Sorry in advance for the non-formatted table. I thoroughly expect to get blown up for this by someone so please allow me to duck first. Here it is:
Coroner
While most of those of great healing knowledge use their abilities to tend to those who are sick or wounded, there are those for which the examination of the dead holds far more interest. For him the cadaver is something to be examined so as to provide knowledge so that in the future sicknesses can be more easily cured or enemies more easily overcome. The coroner is this person. Whether he is a morbid coffin-maker, a work-a day gravedigger or a gleeful experimenter, he is an explorer, the corpse his unmapped wilderness and his surgical tools his compass. His in depth knowledge of the anatomy not only allows him to be more precise in battle, it also allows him to pass some of the benefits of his research on to his allies. But he is more than that. A coroner’s keen senses, trained by years of medical studies allow him to observe things many others might miss. Furthermore his years of disciplined study have also made him a fountain of knowledge. Armed with his findings and that knowledge, the coroner makes an implacable foe when interrogating a suspect.
Role: The mere fact that coroners spend much of their time cutting up the dead, does not make them the best candidate for socialite of the year regardless of where they are. Most people avoid them out of habit simply because they are too much a reminder of their own mortality. That said, for those of strong stomach, like a group of adventurers who have seen their share of entrails, a coroner’s medical expertise, general knowledge and well developed observation skills can be an asset to a party not to be overlooked.
Alignment: Any non-chaotic
Hit Dice: D8
Class Skills: Bluff, Craft, Diplomacy, Handle Animal, Heal, Intimidate, Knowledge (All), Linguistics, Perception, Profession, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, Use Magical Device
Skill Ranks per Level: 6 + Int modifier.
Level Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special
1st +0 +2 +0 +2 Organ Storage, Anatomical Expertise, Keen Senses, Anatomical Edge
2nd +1 +3 +0 +3 Poison and Disease Resistance +2
3rd +2 +3 +1 +3
4th +3 +4 +1 +4 Anatomical Edge
5th +3 +4 +1 +4 Poison and Disease Resistance +4
6th +4 +5 +2 +5
7th +5 +5 +2 +5 Anatomical Edge, Mass Anatomical Edge
8th +6/+1 +6 +2 +6 Poison and Disease Resistance +6
9th +6/+1 +6 +3 +6
10th +7/+2 +7 +3 +7 Anatomical Edge, Mass Anatomical Edge
11th +8/+3 +7 +3 +7 Poison and Disease Immunity, Precision Bleed
12th +9/+4 +8 +4 +8
13th +9/+4 +8 +4 +8 Anatomical Edge, Mass Anatomical Edge
14th +10/+5 +9 +4 +9 Precision Bleed
15th +11/+6/+1 +9 +5 +9
16th +12/+7/+2 +10 +5 +10 Anatomical Edge, Mass Anatomical Edge
17th +12/+7/+2 +10 +5 +10 Precision Bleed
18th +13/+8/+3 +11 +6 +11
19th +14/+9/+4 +11 +6 +11 Anatomical Edge, Mass Anatomical Edge
20th +15/+10/+5 +12 +6 +12 Surgical Strike
Class Features
The following are class features of the coroner.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Coroners are proficient with all simple weapons plus the rapier. They are also proficient with light armor, but not with shields.
Organ Storage: Starting at 1st level, a coroner can cast Gentle Repose as a spell-like ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + his class level. A coroner needs to spend two hours a day studying remains and writing down his findings in order to keep his class skills.
Anatomical Expertise: A coroner adds half his level (minimum 1) to Heal Skill Checks made to make an Anatomical Edge Roll.
Keen Senses: Coroners receive a +2 bonus on Perception Skill Checks.
Anatomical Edge: Starting at 1st level, a coroner can take a swift action to attempt an Anatomical Edge roll when in battle against his Heal Skill. If he rolls above the DC of 15+ opponents HD, he receives a +1 bonus on Attack Rolls, Damage Rolls and +1 Dodge Bonus to AC. Damage done by Anatomical Edge bypasses any Damage Reduction. At every 3 levels after 1st, these bonuses increase by 1. He may attempt Anatomical Edge a number of times a day equal to his Intelligence Modifier.
Poison and Disease Resistance: At 2nd level, a coroner gains a +2 bonus on all saving throws against poison or disease. This bonus increases to +4 at 5th level and then again to +6 at 8th level. At 11th level, a coroner becomes completely immune to poison and disease.
Mass Anatomical Edge: Starting at 7th level a coroner may as a swift action grant all allies within 30’ his Anatomical Edge bonus 6 levels lower than his current class level.
Precision Bleed: Starting at 11th level a coroner with this ability can cause living opponents to bleed with a successful hit. This attack causes the target to take 1 additional point of damage each round for each successful hit. This bonus increases to 2 at 14th level and 3 at 17th level. Bleeding creatures take that amount of damage every round at the start of each of their turns. The bleeding can be stopped by a DC 15 Heal check or the application of any effect that heals hit point damage. Bleeding damage from this ability does not stack with itself. Bleeding damage bypasses any damage reduction the creature might possess.
Surgical Strike: At 20th level a coroner can kill a foe with a single blow. Whenever a coroner successfully confirms a critical hit, he makes an Anatomical Edge Roll against his target. If that roll succeeds that foe is either brought to -1 hit point or is slain as the coroner wishes.
Let me know what you folks think (ducking now).
HH
