| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
I'm really excited to finally get some good details about Geb! One of the coolest regions, and I'm excited to have undead PCs actually supported. Even Starfinder cops out on full "Sure, play an animate skeleton".
What I could definitely see being a class or at rather class archetype is a lich.
You start out as a regular arcane caster like a wizard with a more heavy lean on necromancy and stuff. As you level, you research a way to eternal life and at later levels - probably 12+ - you do the ritual and become an actual lich.
With all the new lich stuff coming, this seems like a perfect fit for this book.
| 4 people marked this as a favorite. |
Some of my favorite books from 3rd edition were the monster category books. Libris Mortis: Book of the Undead, Draconomicon, The book of aberrations. I loved all those.
Hopefully this book has some good stuff in it.
This book should be very exciting. I want to see what they offer in terms of the classes/ancestries.
This book should be very exciting. I want to see what they offer in terms of the classes/ancestries.
We already know there's no new classes in this particular book. We're more likely to see the next class-involved book at GenCon.
From the 1E Classes:
The Medium is appropriate for this book either returning as a Class or an Archetype. It would be a shame to not see it here as it is all about communicating with the spirits of the dead. Although the Medium could be expanded to communicate with other kinds of spirits, such as nature spirits, divine spirits, occults spirits, etc.
The Spiritualist is also appropriate, but it now falls under Summoner. We don't know how much Phantom related stuff we will see in Secrets of Magic, so we may see more Phantom related stuff here.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
This book should be very exciting. I want to see what they offer in terms of the classes/ancestries.We already know there's no new classes in this particular book. We're more likely to see the next class-involved book at GenCon.
This would be a good book to include necromancy-themed/anti-undead class feats for a whole bunch of classes, at the very least.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
This would be a good book to include necromancy-themed/anti-undead class feats for a whole bunch of classes, at the very least.This book should be very exciting. I want to see what they offer in terms of the classes/ancestries.We already know there's no new classes in this particular book. We're more likely to see the next class-involved book at GenCon.
Yes! More feats, spells, equipment, and magic items for facing off against the undead would be great.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
This would be a great place to bring back the alchemist self mummification and zombie making abilities. Always appreciated that.
|
When I said power, I meant it in the broad sense of, "this is not something a common race would have". Taking the Vampire for example, they have an extreme weakness to the very common thing called "the sun". They are hard to have in a team with a healer, when the healer doing AoE will just damage then instead. But then they also get a lot of good stuff like; more stats, weird abilities, etc. Also Vampires are not really that spread out in the setting last time I checked. Most of them are in Geb.
Aka its a race that is not very spread, and has weird abilities. Thus its rarer than say the plane-touched races.
At the very least, they're also common in Nidal and Ustalav :) They definitely tend to pop up quite often in all the Golarion content I've prepared, no matter where that is.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
At the very least, they're also common in Nidal and Ustalav :) They definitely tend to pop up quite often in all the Golarion content I've prepared, no matter where that is.When I said power, I meant it in the broad sense of, "this is not something a common race would have". Taking the Vampire for example, they have an extreme weakness to the very common thing called "the sun". They are hard to have in a team with a healer, when the healer doing AoE will just damage then instead. But then they also get a lot of good stuff like; more stats, weird abilities, etc. Also Vampires are not really that spread out in the setting last time I checked. Most of them are in Geb.
Aka its a race that is not very spread, and has weird abilities. Thus its rarer than say the plane-touched races.
Jalmeray has those psychic vampires as well.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Looking at 1E Prestige Classes and Archetypes that have a theme of working with undead, creating undead, destroying undead, overcoming death, or dealing with the spirits of the dead might give us some ideas of what we might see in The Book of the Dead. So with that in mind I have attempted to find all the 1E Prestige Classes and Archetypes with the aforementioned themes.
Before going deeper, I use the term “Branching Archetypes”, to refer to 2E Archetypes that have a commonly related Dedication Feat, but then later branches into different Archetype paths. For example Hellknight Armiger, Hellknight, and Hellknight Signifier all “begin” with the Hellknight Armiger Dedication Feat. We are not required to take two additional Hellknight Armiger Feats before branching into Hellknight or Hellknight Signifier, but the Hellknight Armiger Dedication Feat is a prerequisite before branching into the Hellknight or Hellknight Signifier Archetypes. Other examples of “Branching Archetypes” include the Magaambya Archetypes, Pathfinder Archetypes, and Lastwalll Archetypes. I also have to say I love branching archetypes as that is such a smart why to do interrelated Archetypes while also keep them unique.
Here’s what I found:
Prestige Classes:
Agent of the Grave (Prestige Class, Plus Archetypes: Ectoplasm Master & Seal-Breaker)
These are all about the Whispering Way with the Ectoplasm Master & Seal-Breaker making good options for branching archetypes.
Ashavic Dancer (Prestige Class)
Servants of Ashava with unique ways of defeating undead.
Death Slayer (Prestige Class)
Part of the Red Mantis Assassins specializing in taking down undead. Great option for Red Mantis Assassin branching archetype.
Heritor Knight (Prestige Class)
Followers of Iomedae, these Knights have special techniques for dealing with undead.
Knight of Ozem (Prestige Class)
Devoted to Iomedae, these knights are strongly opposed to the Whispering Way and Geb. The Heritor Knight and Knight of Ozem could be combined into a branching archetype as they share a patron and have similar themes.
Mortal Usher (Prestige Class, Plus Archetypes: Fated Guide, Soul Shepard, Soul Warden, & Usher of Lost Souls)
These agents of Pharasma look after the souls of the dead and combat undead. A popular theme in 1E this makes for a great branching archetype option.
Order of the Crux (Prestige Class)
In 1E this played off the Hellknight Prestige Class, and can easily be done in 2E as a branching archetype.
Soul Warden (Prestige Class)
Agents of Nex that specialize in dealing with the dead and the undead. Not to be confused with the Soul Warden Archetype, see Mortal Usher above.
That wraps up the Prestige Classes, next is a look at the 1E Archetypes with Golarion specific lore.
Black-Blooded Oracle (Archetype)
Individuals that carry the Black-Blood of Orv in their veins and are granted unusual necrotic powers. This could also fit nicely in a book about the Darklands.
Cruoromancer (Archetype)
Those who carry the stain of undeath in their blood, such as Dhampir can use their blood for necrotic magic. This may also show in the book that includes blood magic, which might be The Book of the Dead.
Crypt Breaker & Dread Investigator (Archetypes)
Specializing in techniques to handle both undead and constructs, Crypt Breakers are well prepared to handle the tombs and ruins where they conduct archeological research. Dread Investigators explore and research tombs and crypts and sometimes associate with cults of Urgathoa. These would be a good branching archetype options for the 2E Archaeologist Archetype.
Energist (Archetype)
Energists study positive or negative energy and their effects on the living and the dead, often traveling to other planes to pursue their research. This archetype is also a good fit for an appropriate planar book.
Expulsionist (Archetype)
Commonly found in the Church of Pharasma and similar churches opposed to malevolent undead spirits.
Phantom Blade (Archetype)
The spirits and souls of a warriors that fall in war and battle, sometimes select a surviving companion or champion to assist in carrying on the fight. These spirits and souls aid there champion by manifesting as ectoplasmic weapons, and are most often seen in Mendev. This Archetype has a lot of story potential, and is a personal favorite.
Spirit Eater & Yokai Hunter (Archetypes)
Spirit Eaters are mostly commonly found in Shenmen, and Yokai Hunters are generally found across Tian Xia. Both interact with the spirits of the dead in interesting ways. However, it is unclear how Yokai will be defined in 2E, and may include Oni, Kami, and a variety of different spirits. These would also be good options for a Tian Xia themed book.
Spiritslayer (Archetype)
The Spiritslayers and their techniques originated in Rahadoum as specialized members of the Pure Legion. These techniques have since been adopted by other organizations opposed to undead such as the Church of Pharasma. This is a good option for a Pure Legionnaire branching Archetype, while also having a dedication feat that doesn’t require a Pure Legionnaire Dedication Feat prerequisite.
Twilightsage (Archetype)
Specialized necromancers from Geb that study the boundary between life and death. This would make a good option for the book of the dead.
Archetypes
The following Archetypes do not have Golarion specific lore associated with them in the 1E source material. I have grouped them into themes as best I could.
Familiars & Companions:
The following Archetypes allow your familiar or animal companion to have undead blood similar to a Dhampir.
Bloodline Familiar
Deathtouched Campanion
School Familiar
Undead Alchemy:
The following Archetypes mix alchemy and necromancy.
Ectochymist
Reanimator
Death Singers:
The following Archetypes use song and sound to either lament for the dead or bring the dead back to life.
Dirge Bard
Elegist
Songhealer
Undead Slayers:
The following Archetypes use special techniques for combating and destroying undead.
Corpse Hunter
Ghost Hunter
Graveslinger
Grave Warden
Kinslayer
Roaming Exorcist
Spirit Master
Undead Scourge
Vampire Hunter
Some of the above would make great branching archetypes such as Vampire Hunter branching into Kinslayer.
Undead Obsessed:
The following Archetypes have an obsession with undead.
Gravewalker
Hungry Ghost Monk
Knight of the Sepulcher
Necroccultist
Necrologist
Spirit Walker
Undead Lord
Undead Master
Cycle of Life & Death:
The following Archetypes have special insight or understanding of the cycle of life and death.
Death Druid
Reanimated Medium
Reincarnated Druid
Spirits of the Dead:
The following Archetypes place special emphasis on the spirits of the dead, the forms they take, and how the interact with the living.
Drowned Channeler
Geist Channeler
Hag-Haunted
Haunted
Medium (1E Archetype, not to be confused with 1E Class)
Onmyoji
Spirit Binder
Spirit Warden
Unique Approach:
The following Archetypes have a more unique approach to the dead or undead and didn’t fit into another theme.
Discretion Specialist: Make dead bodies disappear and leave no evidence behind.
Ectoplasmatist: Infuse yourself with ectoplasm.
Ghost Rider: Use phantasmal powers against undeath. (I love this Archetype.)
Gravedigger: Learn the secrets of the dead.
Hallowed Necromancer: Use necromancy without using undeath.
Haunt Collector: Collect haunted items and use them in interesting ways.
Hex Channeler: Devote yourself to healing and life or to harm and undeath.
Pyschodermist: Take parts from things you killed and use them to wield their power.
Skeptic: Doubt ghost stories, but be willing to accept them when proof is presented.
I hope a lot of these Prestige Classes and Archetypes will see a return in The Book of the Dead as class options and archetypes. And I hope when and where it makes sense Paizo will continue to make branching archetypes for 2E Archetypes that are interrelated.
|
|
I would VERY much like to see a type of "shade" or "ghost" versatile Ancestry that is Rare and creates a spectral transparent insubstantial character.
There are plenty of levers that can be used to balance it IMO and as long as they don't start off at level 1 with the ability to fly or phase through walls/floors or a universal immunity to non-magical attacks I think it could be reasonably balanced.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Has there been any mention of Undead grafts or grafts in general? Libris Mortis had them
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I'm hoping for a 2e version of the Undead Anatomy spell from 1e. Also, I'm hoping for a Druid or other class that can turn into undead creatures, as well as have other undead abilities, that would be awesome.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Playable Mortics pleeeeeaaaseee!
Second.
Each mortic seemed to manifest differently based on their ancestry, so it would be cool to have a Mortic ancestry with heritages being the original ancestry.
Doesn't the flesh-eating make Mortics kind of unplayable?
Playable undead is something I do very much want, though. It just opens up so many character archetypes - though I do keep running into 2e not having an Inquisitor yet! Arazni feels like much more of an Inquisitor goddess than a Cleric or Champion one :p
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Doesn't the flesh-eating make Mortics kind of unplayable?
Playable undead is something I do very much want, though. It just opens up so many character archetypes - though I do keep running into 2e not having an Inquisitor yet! Arazni feels like much more of an Inquisitor goddess than a Cleric or Champion one :p
The human mortics seem deliberately player friendly since they only need to eat raw meat. The others present more of a problem so I think a Gurgist ancestry is more likely than a Mortic heritage.
|
The human mortics seem deliberately player friendly since they only need to eat raw meat. The others present more of a problem so I think a Gurgist ancestry is more likely than a Mortic heritage.Doesn't the flesh-eating make Mortics kind of unplayable?
Playable undead is something I do very much want, though. It just opens up so many character archetypes - though I do keep running into 2e not having an Inquisitor yet! Arazni feels like much more of an Inquisitor goddess than a Cleric or Champion one :p
Yep Yep, the Gurgist doesn't even need it to be Humanoid meat, just raw.
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
I, for one, eagerly anticipate the possibility of playing a gurgist noble lady with a refined palette who seeks the most gourmet manner of preparing raw meat. Lots of sushi, I'm sure. I wonder if you can get away with searing?
I’m curious about other kinds of undead; I love a good Frankenstein’s monster (though Fleshwarps inch into this space), I think ghouls have some really interesting lore connections, something ghost-y would be VERY fun, everyone loves vampires… I wonder what a player-facing mummy looks like?
It would be such a treat if I was able to recreate my skeleton alchemist wizard from my World of Warcraft days.
Really excited for this book, seems like something insanely cool is just a few months away at any given time.
The one question I have about undead ancestry - will I be able to make a dullahan?
