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Stealing shamelessly from reddit: Skeleton Summoner (Undead Eidolon), with an undead companion (Ghost). The Eidolon is described as a pile of undead meat. It's just this one guy, but he somehow got brought back from the dead in three different ways.
...and now I'm wondering... what happens if your skeleton PC takes a lethal hit and goes down... and then you cast resurrection on the body?
I would think it would just resurrect them into a living state, unless the don't wish to be.
But agreed, I am curious how "healing" will be handled. Typically an Undead is destroyed outright once their HP is dropped. But PC Undead are likely to go be downed and "unconscious" as normal. Typical negative healing spells will probably work fine here.
If they are destroyed and need some form of "resurrection", they'll either A. add in a new "Dark Resurrection" spell; or B. (And the one I find more likely), the Create Undead Ritual will likely work for this.
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A Duskwalker Cleric of Pharasma with the new Soul Warden archetype, incarnated in the haunted land of Shenmen and on a solemn quest to purify the land. They travel alongside a Samsaran (rules for them soon, I can only hope!) Investigator with the new Undead Slayer archetype, an acupuncturist who fled Chu Ye and uses their understanding of life force to destroy the undead, and a Human Monk with the Ghost Eater archetype from Ruby Phoenix, one of those wandering Minatan priests who destroy ghosts.
EDIT: I don't know who their fourth should be. A spellcaster? A tank? A skeleton?
Was there a preview of the Book of the Dead somewhere? Anywhere I can read about it?
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Was there a preview of the Book of the Dead somewhere? Anywhere I can read about it?
Multiple youtube videos; check recent comments on the product page for the links.
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A Duskwalker Cleric of Pharasma with the new Soul Warden archetype, incarnated in the haunted land of Shenmen and on a solemn quest to purify the land. They travel alongside a Samsaran (rules for them soon, I can only hope!) Investigator with the new Undead Slayer archetype, an acupuncturist who fled Chu Ye and uses their understanding of life force to destroy the undead, and a Human Monk with the Ghost Eater archetype from Ruby Phoenix, one of those wandering Minatan priests who destroy ghosts.
EDIT: I don't know who their fourth should be. A spellcaster? A tank? A skeleton?
Perhaps you could give the acupuncturist either shuriken or throwing knives that are flavored to be bo-shuriken or throwing needles. Also, for the fourth member, how about this:
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Ancestry: Human (Tian-Min) [Versatile Human: Incredible Initiative];
Background: Raised by Belief [Wis];
Class: Champion [Paladin: Shining Oath]
Inspiration: Ōhōri Tsuruhime, warrior from Japan's Sengoku period, often compared to Joan of Arc. Meant to be a member of a group of seven swordsman/woman known as the Kenshinchi, who are themselves inspired the Seven Samurai/Samurai Seven. The undead tie-in is meant to be light, at best, directly tied to another character, who is undead. So I didn't give her Undead Slayer, because she is more focused on her being a Samurai Paladin than having a vendetta against undead.
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Skeleton Champion (Tyrant) of General Susumu - This warrior loyally served a weak lord until the last, dying in a climactic assault by a rival that saw their castle razed and every soul inside put to the sword. Furious at a life wasted, his spirit could not rest easy, reanimating his bones with a solemn vow to never serve anyone less than himself - and finding a ready patron in Susumu, whose outlook he quite appreciates.
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Skeleton Champion (Tyrant) of General Susumu - This warrior loyally served a weak lord until the last, dying in a climactic assault by a rival that saw their castle razed and every soul inside put to the sword. Furious at a life wasted, his spirit could not rest easy, reanimating his bones with a solemn vow to never serve anyone less than himself - and finding a ready patron in Susumu, whose outlook he quite appreciates.
Named this fine gentleman Zhang Shan, and gave him a proper place in Golarion: he died defending one of the old masters of Shokuro from the invading armies of Lingshen. I imagine Zhang spends most of his time over the border in Shenmen, on account of being a skeleton bound to an Evil god and all. He wants a kingdom for himself, and would honestly run it pretty damn well, or find the right people to do so - but he's uncompromising in matters of war and bloodshed.
He's also the first Champion I've been at all interested in playing since 2e released - the Intimidate/Demoralize/Fear effects a Tyrant has access to are a lot of fun, and I love that Touch of Corruption on an undead PC functionally means I have a Lay on Hands that only works on myself. General Susumu seems like a riot to follow, too; I love that he forbids mistreating your weapons and your mount.
So I actually posted this character in the thread already, but I left him largely ambiguous for others to use. Here is his full (yet, still evolving) write-up:
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EDIT: So the exact timeline of events are a little all over the place, as my notes and story points for this guy are highly unorganized. But essentially, he was inspired by the likes of Genghis Khan and Mortal Kombat's Shao Khan. In life, he sought to usurp the Eternal Throne of Imperial Lung Wa, and then finally all of the Dragon Empires. But, as villains do, he would eventually come to be defeated by a lone solider named Zhou Ping; who would later come to be known as Jin Shang, the Dragon-Prince of Xa Hoi. In undeath, he would eventually be defeated again by what would eventually become the Kenshinchi. Unable to destroy him outright, however, they were forced to find a means to seal him away instead. These seals, through a combination of his evil, the meddling of like-minded individuals, and time, have caused these seals to degrade over the centuries. His influence has caused an increase in undead throughout Tian-Xia, which is how Yōuko's village comes to be destroyed. She, along with six others, will come to reestablish the Kenshinchi to eventually oppose his rule. This will all likely get altered here and there as I solidify plot points and the characters involved. But that's basically his story.
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I was inspired by the Dullahan in Frozen Flame #2 and had an idea for one who was bound to a good adventurer who brought her her head back and constantly called her "Headmistress".
I was inspired by the Dullahan in Frozen Flame #2 and had an idea for one who was bound to a good adventurer who brought her her head back and constantly called her "Headmistress".
OKay... now I'm imagining a Dullahan PC who somehow has their own head as an undead familiar. Possibly doing something with living hair?
I was inspired by the Dullahan in Frozen Flame #2 and had an idea for one who was bound to a good adventurer who brought her her head back and constantly called her "Headmistress".OKay... now I'm imagining a Dullahan PC who somehow has their own head as an undead familiar. Possibly doing something with living hair?
Dullahan w/ a Beheaded Familiar, only it's their own head. Lol
I'm really hoping that Blood Lords has more undead archetypes in the backmatter. If the adventures do have that Dullahans, Graveknights, Wraiths and some manner of Zombie are topping my list.
Some runners up would be Revenants, Shadows, and Wights.
This was actually my own hope as well. I don't expect every volume to have an Undead Archetype, as I'm sure we will see some some normal ones that are either for or against them as well, but maybe 4 additional ones would be nice. Personally, I'd like to see Graveknights, Shadows, Wights, and Wraiths, as I see them as sort of the "main undead" alongside the ones we are getting. An additional 4 I would love to see eventually would be Dullahans, Revenant, Morhg, and Daughters of Urgathoa.
Also, Zombie is one of the 6 Archetypes we are getting. Unless you mean more like specialized/specific kinds of Zombies?
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According to the preview that Nonat1s posted yesterday, the Reanimator archetype inspired me to make a Summoner (possibly with the Undead Eidolon) with the Reanimator archetype and later on the undead equivalent to the Beastmaster to truly invoke the feel of a necromancer with a troupe of undead at their behest. (And to likely completely cripple my action economy as a result, but that's part of the fun to me!)
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According to the preview that Nonat1s posted yesterday, the Reanimator archetype inspired me to make a Summoner (possibly with the Undead Eidolon) with the Reanimator archetype and later on the undead equivalent to the Beastmaster to truly invoke the feel of a necromancer with a troupe of undead at their behest. (And to likely completely cripple my action economy as a result, but that's part of the fun to me!)
Seconded. Get an ancestry with a familiar and go dhampir to make it undead. SQUAD UP!!
Since her birth, Chiwa has known only death. Stillborn within a small litter of pups, the infant was most certainly dead before she ever lived. But she did not remain so for long, as mere minutes after their birth, six of her seven siblings had suddenly died, the very life seemingly stolen from them, and the previously unliving Chiwa yipping amongst their corpses. Her tribe believed this to be a sign from their goddess, Mother Vulture, that Chiwa was destined to guide them through life and death. They were sorely mistaken, however.
A sickly thing, Chiwa was raised a priestess of Mother Vulture, the Psychopomp Ushers edicts meshing almost perfectly with Gnoll culture. Of he responsibilities, leading in her tribes funerary rites was key amongst them, the Gnolls consumption of their own dead seen as a sacred act. But she always found herself wanting and unfulfilled, no matter how much she feasted. Then one dark night, her tribe was attacked by a group of Urgathoan cultists, who killed and raised many of her packmates. Once subdued, the tribe would later lay to rest their fallen. It was at this time that everything changed. Feasting upon the cold, still flesh of her previously reanimated kin, she felt more invigorated than she ever had. The residual negative energy that once served to bring foul unlife to the dead brought a sense of vitality to her feeble body. She had found what she had been lacking for so long. Amongst the remains of the cultist, she found spellbooks and unholy texts, which she hid away and studied. She had to learn to the secrets of undeath so that she could continue to consume it, at first practicing on her pet Hyena before moving on to larger prey. This blasphemous act would eventually lead to the near extinction of her tribe, as she slaughtered, raised, and consumed them. Unsatisfied, she would make her way to the nation of Geb, taking up an apocryphal and hertical worship of Urgathoa, and ultimately striving to become one of the Blood Lords, so that she may continue to feed her gluttonous hunger.
NOTES: Specifically has the Duskwalker Heritage to not only add to her corrupt nature; but also because Duskwalkers cannot be risen as Undead, adding further layers to her curious existence. It's likely that her odd state of being has something to do with Sahkils, but I haven't though that far ahead. The Revenant background is tied to her being stillborn, as well as he strange state of living death. Her pet Hyena is mostly an excuse to play with an Undead Familiar. May also give levels in Witch, depending on what BotD brings to the table for them.
Even before him birth, Mandla was a hunter and a warrior. Whilst still in the womb, he had eaten three of his siblings. What was even stranger was after his birth, he and his sister were the only two to survive out of a litter of seven. Being much larger and healthier than the rest, he was thought to be blessed by their ancestors; not realizing his strength came from his unborn siblings.
With time, he became one of the tribes strongest warriors and hunter. So when thebtribe was attacked by a group of Urgathoan cultists, he defended them with ferocity. However, he was no match for his sister when she betrayed the tribe and slaughtered everyone within it, raising many of them as shambling undead. Left for dead amongst the corpses of his kin, Mandla managed to survive despite his injuries, and now uses his skills to hunt his sister and the vile dead she commands.
NOTES: Has the Beastkin Heritage mostly to add to his animalistic like strength and ferocity, but also to make him permanently Large at some point. Flavoring it more as the beastly nature of his Ancestry manifesting itself more than in others, making him more Hyena-like than his kin. Or something to that nature. Also, yes, he was kind of thrown together just to compliment his sister. But, incidently, my idea for an Gnoll Undead hunter came first.
EDIT: Can't Dhampir have Vampiric Companions/Familiars already?
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According to the preview that Nonat1s posted yesterday, the Reanimator archetype inspired me to make a Summoner (possibly with the Undead Eidolon) with the Reanimator archetype and later on the undead equivalent to the Beastmaster to truly invoke the feel of a necromancer with a troupe of undead at their behest. (And to likely completely cripple my action economy as a result, but that's part of the fun to me!)Seconded. Get an ancestry with a familiar and go dhampir to make it undead. SQUAD UP!!
Afaik, the Lich archetype also grants an undead familiar, and the Reanimator's feats go up to exactly 12th level, which just so happens to be the same level at which you can grab the Lich Dedication, so...
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In all seriousness, I am absolutely in LOVE with Mark Seifter's Dungeon Ancestry. It is single-handedly the wackiest, yet well thought thing I've seen in tabletop. Although, I will say, total missed opportunity to have a Catacombs/Sepulcher Dungeon Hertiage, to tie into BotD.
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I would be bringing back my old character, Niscies Craven (CE human ghost sorcerer 13) from 1st Edition, though I'm not sure yet in what form precisely. I suppose I'll wait to see what all the book has to offer on that point.
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I hadn't even considered the Psychic Bloodline potentially returning in Dark Archive. Another Occult Bloodline would be a nice addition.
A warsworn as an undead eidolon. The summoner was a member of it and through great willpower, one individual commands the collective of it. Not sure what would fit best as an ancestry.
I kind of like the idea of an Orc Zombie, their willpower being their sheer ferocity being what allowed them to separate and control the rest.
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Seconded. Get an ancestry with a familiar and go dhampir to make it undead. SQUAD UP!!
Pixie, for the undead riding corgi.
I hear the bit about the lich, but this character concept would be short on class feats even *with* free archetype. better to get your familiar from your ancestry.
In all seriousness, I am absolutely in LOVE with Mark Seifter's Dungeon Ancestry. It is single-handedly the wackiest, yet well thought thing I've seen in tabletop. Although, I will say, total missed opportunity to have a Catacombs/Sepulcher Dungeon Hertiage, to tie into BotD.
Ehh? This sounds interesting. Where is this Dungeon Ancestry of which you speak?
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Dungeon Ancestry was Roll For Combat/Battlezoo’s April Fools release.
Dungeon Ancestry was Roll For Combat/Battlezoo’s April Fools release.
Yahaha!
It is as keftiu says!
I am currently drafting up the very obvious character concept of a Tree Dungeon with a Koro.... Leshy Avatar. I'm thinking Bard, likely with a Maestro Muse (for lack of something more appropriate), but I'm not quite sure yet.
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*NOTES: Very rough idea. Mostly just really liked the idea of a skeleton floating inside of what was essentially its own ooze like flesh. Likely to tweak the story a bit. Fun addition, I imagine any held or worn items, like bombs, elixers, and weapons, either float inside of their gelatinous form or protrude from it. And yes, the name is a reference and sounded very Gnome-like.*
I would absolutely LOVE to see an Undead Instinct for Barbarian, but I doubt we'll get it in this book, sadly.
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Undead Instinct
You were born or cursed with an innate connection to the profane energies that give corrupt life to the dead, its antithetical hate for life bringing you closer to undeath. This connection manifest in you as an unending hunger, a fundamental need fueling your might, but sending you into uncontrollable bouts of rage when left unchecked. Choose an Undead creature from the list below. Your connection to negative energy transforms you to take on similar physiology to that creature. The benefits you gain while raging are presented within the table, as well as your Undead Craving, which serves as your anathema.
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Ideas, initial rage ability grants you some sort of attack based in your Undead, such as a Vampire's Fangs or a Zombie's Jaw. Specialized Ability could do something like grant some kind of added effect. Idk. Just spitballing. I do really like the idea that their anathema is tied to their unnatural need. So if you chose Vampire, you must drink blood every few days. Also toyed with the idea of it maybe granting an Undead Archetype at some point. But that would depend on how each works.
The idea that their connection to negative energy gives them some kind of primordial Instinct seems appropriate I feel.
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Thinking of playing a skeleton gunslinger in Outlaws of Alkenstar. The Stoolie background has your undercover lawman erased from the books by a corrupt marshal. This character only learned this was the case after he was gunned down by a squad of officers led by said marshal.
I was thinking pistolero, which lines up with the skeleton's Dex and Cha bonuses. The Int penalty is caused by the bullet rattling around in his skull, New Vegas-style.
This is hilarious and I am incredibly jealous I didn't think of it first. :P
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How can undead that functionally lack blood (and thus any sort of bloodline), such as skeletons, retain their sorcerer abilities and the like?
How can undead that functionally lack blood (and thus any sort of bloodline), such as skeletons, retain their sorcerer abilities and the like?Magic's in the marrow, presumably.
And what of incoporeal ghosts and similar creatures lacking even the marrow?
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And what of incoporeal ghosts and similar creatures lacking even the marrow?How can undead that functionally lack blood (and thus any sort of bloodline), such as skeletons, retain their sorcerer abilities and the like?Magic's in the marrow, presumably.
Sorcerers' magic isn't exclusively literally in their blood. When they lose their body, the magic still sticks around, simple as that. For Occult, Divine, and Arcane magic, there's even a spiritual or mental component to explain it. Primal is the only weird one.
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How can undead that functionally lack blood (and thus any sort of bloodline), such as skeletons, retain their sorcerer abilities and the like?
Lack of blood doesn't seem to be a problem for sorcerers who are Androids, Automata, Conrasu, Leshies, Poppets, etc. The use of the term "blood" in the sorcerer description is clearly being used metaphorically.
How can undead that functionally lack blood (and thus any sort of bloodline), such as skeletons, retain their sorcerer abilities and the like?Lack of blood doesn't seem to be a problem for sorcerers who are Androids, Automata, Conrasu, Leshies, Poppets, etc. The use of the term "blood" in the sorcerer description is clearly being used metaphorically.
That's not the way it reads to me, but I'm totally fine with that. Is there anything in the rules that calls it out specifically/more clearly?
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That's not the way it reads to me, but I'm totally fine with that. Is there anything in the rules that calls it out specifically/more clearly?How can undead that functionally lack blood (and thus any sort of bloodline), such as skeletons, retain their sorcerer abilities and the like?Lack of blood doesn't seem to be a problem for sorcerers who are Androids, Automata, Conrasu, Leshies, Poppets, etc. The use of the term "blood" in the sorcerer description is clearly being used metaphorically.
How can it be meant literally if all of those bloodless ancestries can be sorcerers?
How can it be meant literally if all of those bloodless ancestries can be sorcerers?That's not the way it reads to me, but I'm totally fine with that. Is there anything in the rules that calls it out specifically/more clearly?How can undead that functionally lack blood (and thus any sort of bloodline), such as skeletons, retain their sorcerer abilities and the like?Lack of blood doesn't seem to be a problem for sorcerers who are Androids, Automata, Conrasu, Leshies, Poppets, etc. The use of the term "blood" in the sorcerer description is clearly being used metaphorically.
Because the Book of the Dead hasn't been released yet to clarify those particulars.
I figured bloodlines really just mean your ancestors, not your literal blood. Probably has more to do with the soul and/or genetics.
Yeah, I imagine so. Still, a lot of places reference the blood specifically. As in, a sorcerer's power comes from their blood.
I understand that, that's not always the case with every character, but I've seen it in quite a few places over the years.
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I figured bloodlines really just mean your ancestors, not your literal blood. Probably has more to do with the soul and/or genetics.Yeah, I imagine so. Still, a lot of places reference the blood specifically. As in, a sorcerer's power comes from their blood.
I understand that, that's not always the case with every character, but I've seen it in quite a few places over the years.
I did not realize that not everyone automatically reads 'in the blood' as a premodern way to talk about genetic inheritance. Perhaps this is just my historical literature background, but the only time I considered that a component of sorcery being literally contained in the blood is the blood magic feat(s) of 2e.
Aside from that, sorcery is just an innate talent for casting magic which is often assumed to be inherited from the genetics of magical ancestor. Considering that you can gain sorcerer powers just by being born in an area with a certain energy (in Ustalav has undead sorcerers not because all the dhampir action, but because the environment itself is rich in undead spiritual residua from the war) I typically consider it more or a spiritual equivalent to genetics rather than literal magic in the DNA, though that can certainly be an influencing factor. This foes double for the fact that all the other bloodless ancestriesvalready published have no restrictions on having a gift for sorcery.
Though I guess of you were immune to bleed damage you might also be unable to use certain abilities that require it...?
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Make a skeleton Gymnast swashbuckler and you have yourself a Dark Souls skeleton. Add in that hoop blade from EC and you have yourself the dreaded WHEEL SKELETON
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How can it be meant literally if all of those bloodless ancestries can be sorcerers?That's not the way it reads to me, but I'm totally fine with that. Is there anything in the rules that calls it out specifically/more clearly?How can undead that functionally lack blood (and thus any sort of bloodline), such as skeletons, retain their sorcerer abilities and the like?Lack of blood doesn't seem to be a problem for sorcerers who are Androids, Automata, Conrasu, Leshies, Poppets, etc. The use of the term "blood" in the sorcerer description is clearly being used metaphorically.Because the Book of the Dead hasn't been released yet to clarify those particulars.
** spoiler omitted **
I was talking about the already-existing ancestries: Androids, Automata, Conrasu, Smurfs, Leshies, and Poppets. Do you think they are unable to be sorcerers?
Sorcerers' magic isn't exclusively literally in their blood. When they lose their body, the magic still sticks around, simple as that. For Occult, Divine, and Arcane magic, there's even a spiritual or mental component to explain it. Primal is the only weird one.And what of incoporeal ghosts and similar creatures lacking even the marrow?How can undead that functionally lack blood (and thus any sort of bloodline), such as skeletons, retain their sorcerer abilities and the like?Magic's in the marrow, presumably.
False. Bones are very natural. Lol.
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I figured bloodlines really just mean your ancestors, not your literal blood. Probably has more to do with the soul and/or genetics.Yeah, I imagine so. Still, a lot of places reference the blood specifically. As in, a sorcerer's power comes from their blood.
I understand that, that's not always the case with every character, but I've seen it in quite a few places over the years.
The general rule is that if you can come up with a justification, and your GM is cool with it, you can roll with it. If you can't come up with a justification that your GM is cool with, that's where the GM veto on Uncommon and Rare tags comes in. You will note that all Common ancestries have blood.
Where the definition is concerned, blood and bloodline can refer to one's origin or decent. Their ancestry, heritage, lineage; their DNA or genealogy essentially. Most of the time, this suggests that somewhere in your family or people, something influened your very genetics. But, if you look at the descriptions for some of the Bloodlines, a few of them imply that your power can stem from some other source aside your blood. Abberant suggests some eldritch beings influence over your mind; a dynasty might be blessed with Angelic grace for their long standing devotion; while the corruption of sin or some fell infernal contract may leave a Demonic and Diabolic stain upon one's soul. The trick of a Fey, a wish from a Genie, or a curse from a Hag, all other examples of fonts not directly tied to blood, per say.
Where other Ancestries are concerned, they each have their own unique means of flavoring it. An Android's nanite infused fluids; the animating magic of Automotons and Poppets; as well as the chlorophyll in a Conrasu or Leshy. For Skeletons, the marrow in thier bones; to say nothing of the fact that bones are one of the best sources of DNA extraction. Just gotta be creative and I hope this helps get the juices flowing. ^^