Exemplars of Evil

CHAPTER 1
GREAT
VILLAINS
20
Illus. by W. Mahy
ALTERNATIVE
CLASS FEATURES
Villains need specialized skills to fulfill their wicked plots,
and so they might develop slightly atypical abilities
as they grow in power. These unusual talents reflect
their sinister character and their exposure
to fell magic and abominable creatures. This
section provides alternative class
features for some of the classes in
the Player’s Handbook and other
sources.
Alternative class features replace
class features found in the
original class description. If a villain
has already reached or passed
the level at which he can take the
feature, he can use the retraining
option (Player’s Handbook II
page 192) to gain an alternative
class feature in place of a normal
feature that was gained
at that level.
Unless otherwise indicated,
the alternative
class features detailed
below are extraordinary
abilities.
BLASPHEMOUS
INCANTATION
Not all evil deities or fiendish
powers are concerned
with undead. Some grant their
mortal servants the ability to channel their
unholy will in the form of a blasphemous
incantation.
Class: Cleric.
Level: 1st (cleric).
Special Requirement: To select this class feature, you
must be evil. If your alignment changes to something other
than evil, you lose access to this class feature until your
alignment is restored to evil.
Replaces: If you select this alternative class feature, you
lose the ability to rebuke undead.
Benefit: You can call upon your evil master to smite your
enemies. All good creatures within 30 feet must succeed on
Fortitude saves (DC 10 + 1/2 your caster level + your Cha
modifier) or become sickened for a number of rounds equal
to your Charisma modifier (minimum 1 round).
You can utter a blasphemous incantation a number of times
per day equal to 3 + your Cha modifier. If you have 5 or more
ranks in Knowledge (religion), the DC of the Fortitude save
increases by 2.
Blasphemous incantation is a supernatural ability.
CELESTIAL SLAYER
Rangers specialize in hunting and defeating certain sorts of
foes. Sometimes, a ranger’s choice of enemy—as well as his
single-minded pursuit of that enemy’s destruction—draws
the dread attention of evil entities from the Lower Planes.
Favored of the Fiends gives
a cultist fearsome claws
The character becomes better able to resist and combat the
forces of good, at the expense of his soul.
Class: Ranger.
Level: 1st.
Special Requirement: To select this alternative
class feature, you must be evil. If your alignment
changes to something other than evil, you lose
access to this class feature until your alignment
is restored to evil.
Replaces: If you select this class feature,
you do not gain wild empathy, animal
companion, or woodland stride.
Benefit: You gain spell resistance
equal to 10 + your class level against
spells and spell-like effects that
have the good descriptor.
In addition, when you roll to
confirm a critical hit against a
creature of the good subtype,
you gain a +4 competence
bonus on the roll.
FAVORED OF
THE FIENDS
Cultists of archdevils and
demon princes are uncommon and secretive,
but they are a potent force for evil
in the world. On occasion, when a servant
proves his devotion to his vile masters, he
undergoes a profound transformation.
Class: Favored soul (Complete
Divine page 6).
Level: 3rd.
Replaces: If you select this class
feature, you do not gain the Weapon Focus feat
at 3rd level, nor do you gain the Weapon Specialization
feat at 12th level.
Benefit: Your nails lengthen into ragged
claws and your teeth extend into sharp fangs,
dealing damage as indicated on the following table.
Size Bite Damage Claw Damage
Fine 1 —
Diminutive 1d2 1
Tiny 1d3 1d2
Small 1d4 1d3
Medium 1d6 1d4
Large 1d8 1d6
Huge 2d6 1d8
Gargantuan 3d6 2d6
Colossal 4d6 3d6
Your claws are your primary natural weapons. When you
are not wielding a weapon, you can use your claws when
making an attack action. When making a full attack, you
can use both claws and your bite. When wielding a weapon,
you can use the weapon as your primary attack and your
bite as a natural secondary attack. In addition, if you have a
free hand, you can also attack with a claw as an extra natural
secondary attack.
Your natural attacks count as if they were evil-aligned for
the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.