Originally posted by kalthandrix:
Be ready to be awed and take up your weapons - the Knights of the Cleansing are here and will be coming to your neighborhood soon!
I wrote this yesterday and have to admit that for my first pass at it I really like it as is, but I am sure there are a few things that could be improved upon, so let me know what you all think.
[quote]Knight of the Cleansing
“Follow me! We fight for a true and righteous cause that leads to the Age when humans rule all!”-Baeron Gnoll-Slayer, Knight of the Cleansing.
During the genocidal battles known collectively as the Cleansing Wars, thousands of humans flocked to the standards of Rajaat the War-Bringer and his Champions. As the ranks of the armies grew and the battles raged on against the non-human Rebirth races, there emerged from the battle hardened ranks of the human hordes men and women who gloried in the task of the Cleansing. These warriors not only had the ability to lead troops into battle, but they had also taken the message of the War-Bringer into their very being and swore their lives to removing all non-humans from the face of Athas. It was then that the Knights of the Cleansing were born.
Knights of the cleansing are relentless in the pursuit of the genocidal warfare started by Rajaat and his Champions. They give no quarter and expect none from their foes. The Knights of the cleansing were believed to be an extinct order for the past few millennia, but it has been rumored that shortly after the first of the Tyr-storms began to appear, these fearsome warriors once again land and they gather forces to take up this ancient battle once again- all under the direction of an unknown force.
The most common classes found within the knight’s ranks are fighters and rangers who have suffered a grievous loss at the hands of a non-human race.
Hit Dice: d10
Requirements
Race: Human
Base Attack Bonus: +9
Feat: Improved Critical, Leadership, Power Attack
Alignment: Any evil
Special: Must be accepted into the Knights of the Cleansing by another knight.
Special: Must have suffered some kind of violence or loss due to the actions of a non-human race.
Table: Knight of the Cleansing<br /><br /> Base<br />Class Attack Fort Ref Will<br />LevelBonusSave Save Save Special<br />1st+1+2+0+0Oath of the Cleansing, Favored Enemy<br />2nd+2+3+0+0Detect Favored Enemies, Righteous Courage<br />3rd+3+3+1+1Aura of Despair<br />4th+4+4+1+1Wake of Bodies<br />5th+5+4+1+1Incite Racial Superiority <br />6th+6+5+2+2Bane of Races<br />7th+7+5+2+2Cut Them Down<br />8th+8+6+2+2Greater Aura of Despair<br />9th+9+6+3+3Know Thy Enemy<br />10th+10+7+3+3Slay Foe
Class Skills
The knight of the cleansing’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (warcraft) (Int), Listen (Wis), Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), and Survival (Wis).
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All of the following are class features of the knight of the cleansing prestige class.
Weapons and Armor Proficiency: A knight of the cleansing gains proficiency in all simple and martial weapons and are proficient with all armor and with shields (except tower shields).
Oath of the Cleansing: Upon taking up the mantle of a knight of the cleansing, the initiate must first swear a mystic blood oath, where another knight and the initiate both cut their palm and mingle their blood while the candidate recites the word of the oath.
•To give no aid or comfort to non-humans.
•To show no mercy, quarter, or leniency to their sworn enemies.
•To never stop seeking to destroy their sworn enemy while blood flows and lungs have air.
•To slay those humans who would lay with those non-human races, for they are unclean.
This oath is magical in nature and is somehow carried and transferred by willing hosts. If a candidate falsely swears this oath, he is struck with a blast of force that deals d8 points of damage per class level of the knight + that knight’s Cha modifier (if positive) who is supervising the oath taking and they are stunned for 1d6 rounds. A successful Fort save (DC 10 + the supervising knight class level + Cha modifier [if positive]) halves the damage and reduces the amount of time they are stunned to 1 round.
Favored Enemy (Ex): At 1st level, a knight of the cleansing selects a type of creature from among those given on Table: Knight of the Cleansing Favored Enemies. He now gains a +2 bonus on Bluff, Listen, Sense Motive, Spot, and Survival checks when using these skills against creatures of this type. Likewise, he gets a +2 bonus on weapon damage rolls against such creatures. At 6th level the knight may select an additional favored enemy from those given on the table below. In addition, the bonus against any one favored enemy (including the one just selected, if so desired) increases by 2.
Knights of the cleansing cannot select humans or halflings as a favored enemy.
Table: Knight of the Cleansing Favored Enemy(1)<br />AarakocraGnoll* Pixie*<br />B’rohg Gnome* Pterran<br />Belgoi Goblin Reggelid<br />Braxat Hej-Kin Satyr*<br />Bvanen Jozhal Scarb<br />CentaurKobold Silt Runner<br />DoppelgangerLask Slig<br />Dray LizardfolkSprite*<br />Dryad* Magera Ssurran<br />Dune FreakMindhome FolkT’Chowb<br />Dwarf Nikaal Tarek<br />Elf Nymph* Tari<br />Ettin* Oger* Thri-kreen<br />Giant** Orc* Troll*<br />Gith PakubraziWemic*<br /><br />Note: Other races may be selected with the DMs approval.<br />(1) Half-breed races are considered which ever non-human race one of their parents belong too.<br />* These races can only be selected by if playing a Green Age Campaign or for making an NPC alive during that Age.<br />** Includes Beasthead, Crag, Desert, and Plains Giants as well as Half-giants.
Detect Favored Enemy (Sp): Knights of the cleansing have the uncanny ability to locate those races they have sworn to hunt down. Upon reaching 2nd level, a knight of the cleansing can at will, activate an effect that is similar to detect evil (see PHB pg. 218) to determine the presence, number, and location of his favored enemies. The area and range of this effect is just like the spell detect evil, but it cannot be used to determine the favored enemies’ power. This ability is usable at will and activating it is a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity.
Righteous Courage (Su): The determination and whole hearted belief in the rightness of their cause the knight possessed gave him an almost superhuman ability to throw off effects and overcome obstacles that would have stopped normal men. At 2nd level, a knight of the cleansing gains a bonus equal to his Cha modifier (if positive) on all saving throws.
Aura of Despair (Su): Knight’s of the cleansing are figures of terror and dread to those races the knight has dedicated himself to wiping out. In battle, they carry themselves in such a confident and imposing manner that their very presence is sometimes enough to unnerve their foes. At 3rd level, these knights radiate an aura about them that has a 10 foot radius. Any creature that the knight has selected as one of his favored enemies must make succeed in a Will save (DC 10 + class level + Cha modifier) or suffer a -1 penalty to attack and damage rolls while within the area of the knight’s aura of despair.
Wake of Bodies (Ex): The consuming drive to fulfill the Oath of Cleansing drives the knights always onward, pushing them forward into battle, fueling their arms with an unnatural strength that allows them to plow through their enemies; cutting them down with such a drive and recklessness that few can stand before their might. A 4th level knight of the cleansing doubles the amount of extra damage dealt when using Power Attack against their favored enemy (up to a maximum of +10). During the round that the knight does this, he focuses less on his defenses and more upon cutting down his foe, and so until the knights next turn his armor class is reduced by -2.
Incite Racial Superiority (Ex): At 5th level, a knight of the cleansing belief in the superiority of the human race is so strong, that by delivering a speech that lasts at least 1 minute, a knight of the cleansing can inspire his human followers and whip them into a savage fury against the knights favored enemy. If the knight has more then one favored enemy, then the knight must select which favored enemy he will focus this ability upon when making his speech. The number of followers that can be affected at one time is equal to the knight’s class level plus his Cha modifier (if positive) times 10. The followers must be able to hear this speech to be effected. Those affected gain a morale bonus equal to the knight of the cleansing’s Cha modifier for saving throws versus fear-effects for the next hour and a +2 morale bonus to damage rolls against the knight’s favored enemy. This ability can be used a number of times equal to the knight of the cleansing’s Cha modifier per day (minimum one).
Bane of Races (Su): The oath sworn by a knight of the cleansing is more then words, it consumes their thoughts, drives them into battle and to slay those they believe to be unworthy of the coming Age of Men. Upon gaining 6th level, a knight of the cleansing learns how to invoke a ritual that summons forth the oath that is imbued into their very body and blood. The ritual takes one minute to perform, during which time the knight anoints their weapon with their blood and swears the Oath of the Cleansing once again. Upon completion of this ceremony, the anointed weapon gains the bane property (see DMG pg. 224) verses the knights favored enemy. This effect lasts for 1 hour + 1 additional hour per Cha modifier the knight possesses (if positive). If the weapon leaves the knights hand, the effect does not end, but the anointed weapon will not function as a bane weapon for anyone other then the knight who invoked the ritual. Performing this ceremony requires the knight deal 1d6 points of damage to himself with an edged weapon. Bane of races can be used once per day and does not stack with other bane effects.
Cut Them Down (Ex): The savage fury of the knight’s calling to adds to the strength of the their sword arm, allowing them to cut down the foes of humanity with frightening ease. At 7th level, when using Power Attack against their favored enemy, the knight of the cleansing adds back the number of points they subtracted from their base attack bonus (up to a +5) for rolls made to confirm critical attack.
Know Thy Enemy (Ex): Veteran knights of the cleansing have, over time, come to learn a great deal about the methods of combat and tactics used by the races they have sworn to see wiped from the face of Athas and this knowledge has granted them a superb insight into methods of avoiding their enemies attacks . At 9th level, a knight of the cleansing adds their Wis modifier (if positive) to their AC as a circumstance bonus against attacks made by their favored enemy.
Greater Aura of Despair (Su): As aura of despair, but the radius increases to 15 ft. and the penalty increases to -2.
Slay Foe (Su): This is the pinnacle of the knight’s powers in their war against the non-human races. At 10th level, the knight of the cleansing can unerringly strike one of their favored enemies, and if the attack succeeds, the knight’s opponent must make a Fort save (DC 5 + damage dealt + Knights Cha modifier) or die. The use of this ability must be announced before the attack roll is made and if it misses, the use is spoiled. A knight of the cleansing can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 1/2 his Cha modifier (rounded down, a minimum of 1 per day).
Ex-Knights of the Cleansing
Those knights who violate their oath are subject to the force backlash as if they had taken the oath falsely, though the damage dealt is d8 + their class level + Cha modifier. The amount of time stunned, DC, and results of a successful save throw are the same as listed in above in the Oath of the Cleansing. If the now Ex-knight survives, he looses all knight of the cleansing class features and receives negative levels equal to 1/2 his class level. These negative levels can only be removed by an atonement spell cast by a druid of at least 13th level. In most cases, the ex-knight would have to complete several tasks or quests that somehow attempt to help those races that he once had selected as favored enemies, before the druid would believe that the ex-knight was worthy enough.[/quote]
Originally posted by Sysane:
Like what I see so far Kal. I’ll take closer look later.
From first glace though, I’m not to keen on the requirements. Leadership I agree with, but power attack and improved crit don’t seem to fit. I’d think something like a knowledge rank requirement tied to knights speices enemy along with a skill focus in that knowledge would be more appropriate.
Originally posted by radnovius:
Thoughts:
It’s a pretty cool PrC, but I have some suggestions.
Change alignment to any lawful or evil. I could see a lawful neutral or even good character doing this because they think it is right.
Add yuan-ti to the favored enemy list. The snake people must die!
Make half-humans a bonus favored enemy. These beings are desecrations to mankind, and as such should be hated above all others in the eyes of all of the knights.
I’d make the speech have to last for at least 10 minutes. 1 minute would barely get any attention.
Originally posted by mystictheurge:
I like it.
I’m not sure I would give them more than one favored enemy though. Everything I’ve read suggests that they really focused on one non-human race. Perhaps instead you could have them focus on one race, but give them lesser bonuses against all non-human enemies.
I agree about half-races. Tamar shows as much loathing for Rikus, as a half-dwarf, as she does for the full dwarves, going as far as threatening to kill Neeva before letting him “sully” her.
Originally posted by cnahumck:
I agree that there should only be one favored enemy, each army focused on just one, and that was enough. Also, maybe the list should be for each of the champion’s cleansed races. So maybe limit the list to only the 15. Maybe some more, if each DM has more than just the one champion. Creatures like thri-kreen shouldn’t be on the list, as they are a blue age race. Other than that, I really like it. Put’s my mind to thinking about other interesting possibilities for that Cleansing War supplement I have been meaning to start on…
Originally posted by squidfur-:
ok, some initial thoughts…
Favored Enemy - I’m with MysticTheurge on this one.
Additionally I’d remove Thri-kreen from the favored enemy list, and, possibly, the Nikaal as well. As both are seen as Blue Age races - the Nikaal, unofficially so, at least.
Detect Favored Enemy - IMO this is an ability far too powerful for a mere 2nd level knight. Your telling me, that at 2nd level, this guy’s so familiar with the ways of his favored enemy, that merely by thinking about it, he can feel their presence…just doesn’t work for me. This feels much more like an end of the road kind of ability, ie. either 9th or 10th level - with me leaning towards 10th.
Righteous Courage - the mechanics seem ok to me. However - and this is really just a minor nit-pick - the fluff for this ability, gained at 2nd level, already compares this guy to a super human. I’d tone down the “holy-cow, this awe-inspiring being of stupendous might and supreme ability” factor that seems to come with your personal brand of writing. 
Incite Racial Superiority - I’d actually suggest toning down the bonuses, but making this an ability usable after, like, 1 round of ‘speech’. In my mind, this could easily be an ability used in the middle of combat, used to incite his fellow soldiers to stand firm against the enemy - using nothing more than a “Stand Firm, men!!!” kind of expression.
Bane of Races - I’m inclined to suggest modelling this ability after a few of the PrCs in the FR book Faiths and Pantheons. As an example, the Silverstar PrC grants, at 3rd level, the Moon’s Hand ability. With it, any heavy mace becomes a +1 shock heavy mace in her hands - letting go of it returns the weapon to its normal state. Plus, the ability increases to +2 shock heavy mace at 6th level, and, at 9th the silverstar gains the Greater Moon’s Hand ability - which converts the weapon to a +2 shocking burst heavy mace.
As for these statements:
and…
Who then goes on to add why he feels this way by saying…
…I do not agree, I think the approach you have goes further to stay true to the above example.
Originally posted by kalthandrix:
Thanks Sysane.
The reason for Power Attack and Improved Crit is mainly for the Cut Them Down ability - I thought that both of these feats would be a major factor in the KotC’s ability to kill his favored enemies and this was the major ability to capatilize on the two feats.
[quote]Thoughts:
It’s a pretty cool PrC, but I have some suggestions.
Change alignment to any lawful or evil. I could see a lawful neutral or even good character doing this because they think it is right.
Add yuan-ti to the favored enemy list. The snake people must die!
Make half-humans a bonus favored enemy. These beings are desecrations to mankind, and as such should be hated above all others in the eyes of all of the knights.
I’d make the speech have to last for at least 10 minutes. 1 minute would barely get any attention.[/quote]
Alignment - I disagree with your assumption here - NO good creature or person could go about the destruction and killing of an entire race and still be good. So I would have to say no - the alignment will stay the same.
Yuan-ti are not Open Gaming Content and therefore they cannot be used for official products and so i will not use them for my un-official ones either. That is also why I have the note saying that other races can be selected as long as the DM okay’s it.
I see no reason to seperate half-breeds into another catagory - as i state in the chart, half-breeds fall in the same racial catagory as their non-human parent - so a half-elf goes with with elves, muls with dwarves, ect…
As for the length of the speech - this ability is taken almost in whole from the Templar of the Scale PrC. That class only has the speech being 1 round. I made it longer but also able to affect more people. Also - have you seen Braveheart? The speech William Walas (sp) gives is no where near 10 minutes and you can see the effect (granted it is a movie, but this is a game too so…)
[quote]I like it.
I’m not sure I would give them more than one favored enemy though. Everything I’ve read suggests that they really focused on one non-human race. Perhaps instead you could have them focus on one race, but give them lesser bonuses against all non-human enemies.
I agree about half-races. Tamar shows as much loathing for Rikus, as a half-dwarf, as she does for the full dwarves, going as far as threatening to kill Neeva before letting him “sully” her.[/quote]
Thanks to you too-
I am not sure about giving them a blanket bonus against all non-human race - that may be a bit too much IMO.
This class is not going to be limited to the Green Age - and therefore I thought it approperate to add most non-human races - kreen and the like that may have also hailed from the Blue Age.
[quote]Additionally I’d remove Thri-kreen from the favored enemy list, and, possibly, the Nikaal as well. As both are seen as Blue Age races - the Nikaal, unofficially so, at least.
Detect Favored Enemy - IMO this is an ability far too powerful for a mere 2nd level knight. Your telling me, that at 2nd level, this guy’s so familiar with the ways of his favored enemy, that merely by thinking about it, he can feel their presence…just doesn’t work for me. This feels much more like an end of the road kind of ability, ie. either 9th or 10th level - with me leaning towards 10th.
Righteous Courage - the mechanics seem ok to me. However - and this is really just a minor nit-pick - the fluff for this ability, gained at 2nd level, already compares this guy to a super human. I’d tone down the “holy-cow, this awe-inspiring being of stupendous might and supreme ability” factor that seems to come with your personal brand of writing.
Incite Racial Superiority - I’d actually suggest toning down the bonuses, but making this an ability usable after, like, 1 round of ‘speech’. In my mind, this could easily be an ability used in the middle of combat, used to incite his fellow soldiers to stand firm against the enemy - using nothing more than a “Stand Firm, men!!!” kind of expression.
Bane of Races - I’m inclined to suggest modelling this ability after a few of the PrCs in the FR book Faiths and Pantheons. As an example, the Silverstar PrC grants, at 3rd level, the Moon’s Hand ability. With it, any heavy mace becomes a +1 shock heavy mace in her hands - letting go of it returns the weapon to its normal state. Plus, the ability increases to +2 shock heavy mace at 6th level, and, at 9th the silverstar gains the Greater Moon’s Hand ability - which converts the weapon to a +2 shocking burst heavy mace.[/quote]
For Detect Enemy - this is almost exactly like the paladine ability - with is gained at 1st level of that class.
Righteous Courage - Well they are at least 11th level at this time if they were a fighter 9/ kotc 2 - so they are not noobs in any way to combat - they would be elite veteran soldiers. Too lower level followers, these guys would be super-human. And BTW - My writing is AWESOME!!!
Incite Racial Superiority - Again, this ability is almost totally from the Templar of the Scale PrC.
As for the bane of races - At this point they are at least 14th level - so allowing them to have the effect last longer does not seem like a huge issue to me. I have thought that adding a comment in there that says that the effective enhansment of the weapon this effect is added to cannot exceed +10, if it would do so the wielder could choose to have the bane ability kind of inactivate one of the other abilities that the weapon has for the duration of the bane of races effect.
Originally posted by kalthandrix:
Actually - now that I have thought on it a bit more, I think I will go with only one racial enemy. I also was thinking on the idea of making them more dangerous against all non-humans like MysticTheurge had said, but I am unsure about the strength of the bonus - +1 or +2? And should they get the bump in their main favored enemy too. If they get the +2 against all non-humans, what is really the difference in if they had 2 favored enemies? The blanket +2 actually makes them more powerful then just limiting the bonus to two races. But +1 does not seem like it is strong enough, unless I make more of their class features useable against all non-humans, but to a lesser degree. But then again and once again, would that be more or too powerful then if they had just 2 favored enemies.
Chew that bit of crazy over for a while 
Oh- and I re-wrote the intro fluff a bit. I have a bad tendency to make really long and kinda confusing sentences. So I fixed it and cleaned it up a bit.
Originally posted by kalthandrix:
Maybe I could steal a bit from Sysanes Morphic Bane enchantment he had and make their weapons an additional +1 against all non-humans and doing an additional +1d6 of damage to them too and be like the normal bane against their one favored enemy?
Originally posted by radnovius:
To play devil’s advocate:
As it pertains to good:
There’s a difference between absolute good and perceived good. It all depends on your point of view. What about Oronis? Part of being truly evil is not having a conscience. Does any good character ever feel bad about mowing down evil hummanoids?
There was a psychological study done on people that is famous, though I forget who conducted it. Subjects were told to give people shocks for getting wrong answers. Every wrong answer would subsequently hurt more than previous ones. What they found was that people continued to dole out shocks even when the people they were shocking pleaded with them. It goes to show that humans follow authority. Many a good person has committed an evil act with the best of intentions.
As it pertains to law:
The point of the Cleansing was to restore the natural order to the planet. The knights are bound by oathes. If any restriction should be in place it seems that the knight should have to be lawful.
Originally posted by kalthandrix:
Well I am not going to get into a moral or ethical debate with you and I do not care about the perceived and absolute good in this case. I studied philosophy, sociology, and psychology for about two years each while in college and have had my fill of those pointless and endless debates- which is the reason I have a degree in accounting now.
This is not a thread to discuss the moral guidelines or ramification of this class or the Cleansing Wars.
The alignment will stay the way it is because that is how I want it. I m not trying to be rude, but I just do not want this thread to be derailed or turn into a debate, so sorry if I come off as a bit of a jerk 
<-- to soften the sledge hammer I was failing around.
