Epic Level Handbook

CHAPTER 1:CHARACTERS,SKILLS & FEATSEPIC CLERICIn a typical world, the epic cleric stands as one of his deity’smost elite servants. In an adventuring party, he must alsostand as the solid center of the group, providing power andassistance to his companions.Like most spellcasters, you should consider improvingyour spellcasting ability at regular intervals. Epic Spellcastingis a must, and metamagic feats help fill yourhigher-level spell slots. Think strongly about increasingyour turning ability as well, such as with Planar Turning.Epic Skill Focus (Diplomacy) can help you change enemiesinto allies.Your Wisdom controls your spellcastingpower, so that’s where you should put your abilityincreases. Charisma is a reasonable secondoption, particularly if you use your turning orrebuking powers frequently.Other Options: A combat-orientedcleric can look to Epic Weapon Focus,Epic Toughness, and Armor Skin toenhance his fighting capability. EfficientItem Creation can help youpump out powerful magic itemsat an increased rate. If yourcleric rebukes undead ratherthan turning them, he shouldconsider Undead Masteryand Zone of Animation.Hit Die: d8.Skill Points at EachAdditional Level: 2 + Intmodifier.Spells: The cleric’scaster level is equal to hisclass level. The cleric’snumber of spells per daydoes not increase after20th level.Turn or Rebuke Undead:Use the cleric’s classlevel to determine the mostpowerful undead affectedby a turn or rebuke checkand the turning damage,just as normal.Bonus Feats: The epiccleric gains a bonus feat (selectedfrom the list of epic cleric bonus feats) every three levelsafter 20th.Epic Cleric Bonus Feat List: Armor Skin, AutomaticQuicken Spell, Automatic Silent Spell, Automatic StillSpell, Bonus Domain, Enhance Spell, Epic Spell Focus,Epic Spell Penetration, Epic Spellcasting, Ignore MaterialComponents, Improved Alignment-Based Casting,Improved Combat Casting, Improved Heighten Spell,Improved Metamagic, Improved Spell Capacity, IntensifySpell, Multispell, Negative Energy Burst, PermanentEmanation, Planar Turning, Positive Energy Aura,Spectral Strike, Spell Stowaway, Spell Opportunity,Spontaneous Domain Access, Spontaneous Spell, TenaciousMagic, Undead Mastery, Zone of Animation.TABLE 1–5: THE EPIC CLERICClericLevel Special21st —22nd —23rd Bonus feat24th —25th —26th Bonus feat27th —28th —29th Bonus feat30th —EPIC DRUIDThe epic druid is a mighty symbol of the powerof the natural world, able to focus the primalforces of the elements to do her bidding.Take Improved Spell Capacity to gainhigher-level spell slots. Broaden your wildshape horizons by picking up Beast Shape,Improved Elemental Wild Shape, and otherwild feats. To improve your ability to castspells while in another form, focus on theAutomatic Still Spell and Ignore MaterialComponents feats (or pick up ImprovedMetamagic).Boost your Wisdom toimprove your spellcastingpower. Most other abilities are reasonablesecond choices, but they all palebeside Wisdom.Other Options: If you don’tcare about spellcasting while inwild shape, consider picking updifferent metamagic feats, such asAutomatic Quicken Spell. WeaponFocus (claw) and Epic WeaponFocus (claw) can apply to the naturalattacks of a wide variety ofwild shapes.Hit Die: d8.Skill Points at Each AdditionalLevel: 4 + Int modifier.TABLE 1–6: THE EPIC DRUIDDruidLevel Special21st —22nd Wild shape 7/day23rd —24th Bonus feat25th —26th Wild shape 8/day27th —28th Bonus feat29th —30th Wild shape 9/day10