Epic Level Handbook

CHAPTER 1:CHARACTERS,SKILLS & FEATS• Any class features that increase or accumulate as partof a repeated pattern (such as a rogue’s sneak attack orthe number of times per day a barbarian can rage)also continue to increase or accumulate after 20thlevel at the same rate. A 27th-level rogue adds +14d6damage to her sneak attacks. A 32nd-level barbariancan rage nine times per day. An exception to this ruleis any bonus feat granted as a class feature. If you getbonus feats as part of a class feature (such as the featsgained by fighters and wizards), these do not increasewith epic levels. Instead, these classesget bonus feats at a different rate(described in each class below).• In addition to the class features retainedfrom nonepic levels, each class gains a bonusfeat every two, three, four, or live levels after20th. This augments each class’s progressionof class features, because not all classesotherwise improve class features after20th level. You mustselect these feats fromthe list of bonus feats forthat class, much like thenonepic fighter selects hisbonus feats from the specificlist in the Player’s Handbook. Thesebonus feats are in addition to thefeat that every character getsevery three levels(as per Table 1–2:Experience and LevelDependent Benefits).You aren’t limited to selectingfrom your class list when you selectfeats from Table 1–2.• You don’t gain any new class features,because there aren’t any new classfeatures described for these levels.Class features with a progressionthat slows or stops before 20thlevel (such as the monk’sunarmed damage) and featuresthat have a limited list of options(such as the rogue’s special abilities)do not improve as you gain epic levels.Likewise, class features that are gained onlyat a single level (such as a barbarian’s fast movement)do not improve.Adding a Second ClassWhen your single-class epic character gains a level, youmay choose to increase the level of your current class orpick up a new class at 1st level. The standard rules formulticlass characters in the Player’s Handbook still apply,but epic characters must keep in mind the rules forepic advancement.The epic character gains all the 1st-level class skills,weapon proficiency, armor proficiency, spells, and otherclass features of the new class, as well as a Hit Die of theappropriate type. In addition, the character gets the usualskill points from the new class. Just as with standard multiclassing,adding the second class does not confer someof the benefits tor a 1st-level character, including maximumhit points from the first Hit Die, quadruple the perlevelskill points, starting equipment, starting gold, or ananimal companion.An epic character does not gain the base attackbonuses and base save bonuses normally gained whenadding a second class. Instead, an epic characteruses the epic attack bonus and epic savebonus progression shown on Table 1–1: EpicSave and Epic Attack Bonus. Wheneveran epic character is allowed topick up a feat as part of character leveladvancement, he can choose either anonepic feat or an epic feat (see Table1–2: Experience and Level-DependentBenefits). All class descriptionsprovide a list of bonus feats thatcharacters must choose from.When you have to choose from alist of bonus feats in your secondclass, you can also choosefrom the bonus epicfeats described for eachspecific class below.EPIC BARBARIANThe epic barbarian is a terror tobehold. The very incarnation of rage, thisfurious warrior can cut his opponents toribbons with awe-inspiring ease.Focus on increasing the power of yourrage while picking up other feats that boostyour overall damage-dealing (anddamage-resisting) power. ChaoticRage, Thundering Rage, andother rage-boosting fears aretailor-made for the epicbarbarian. Epic Toughness,Damage Reduction,and Fast Healingallow you to continue fightinglong after others have droppeddead, while the leaps of a barbarian with LegendaryLeaper are truly stupendous.Ability increases should go into Strength and Constitution,unless you need ability boosts to qualify forother feats.Other Options: Consider selecting feats from thePower Attack feat path, eventually taking DevastatingCritical. If your saves are poor, thinkabout Energy Resistance. And if you reallywant a frightening barbarian, Blinding Speed is the wayto go.Hit Die: d12.8