This page lists the ways in which certain character classes in Beyond Ragnarok are modified from their published versions (and also lists some entirely new classes). See the Allowed Classes page for a complete listing of all base and prestige classes available to player characters in the campaign.

Base Classes

Bard

• Bards do not need a full-round action to apply metamagic feats to spells. This means, among other things, that bards have the ability to use the Quicken Spell feat.
• A bard character’s inspire courage ability may be improved by taking the Improve Class Ability feat.

Cleric

The D&D image of the cleric in scale mail does not fit into the Slavic Lands campaign setting. Therefore, the following variant is presented for the Slavic cleric:

• Armor and Shield Proficiency: The Slavic cleric is proficient in the use of no armor and no shields.
• Wisdom Bonus to Armor Class: The Slavic cleric applies his Wisdom modifier (if positive) to his AC.
• Insight Bonus to Armor Class: The Slavic cleric receives an additional bonus to his AC which increases as he gains levels. See the monk class table in the Player’s Handbook for the progression of this bonus.
• Unarmed Combat: The Slavic cleric does more damage than normal with his unarmed attacks (a Medium-sized cleric does 1d6 damage). Additionally, he gains the Improved Unarmed Strike feat for free at 1st level.

A player may still choose to play a cleric that hails from the Western lands (Poland, Germany); such a cleric uses the standard PHB rules.

• The cleric gains 4 skill points per level.

• A cleric character’s turn (or rebuke) undead ability may be improved by taking the Improve Class Ability feat.

Druid

• The wild shape ability functions as written in the Player’s Handbook, with the following exception. Unlike the polymorph spell, which does not change the subject’s ability scores, wild shape replaces the druid’s racial ability score modifiers with those of the creature he changes into, for physical abilities only. Wild shape cannot increase any of the druid’s physical ability scores by a greater amount than 3⁄4 of his druid level, and cannot grant a natural armor bonus greater than 1⁄2 of his druid level.
• Druids no longer gain immunity to poisons (from their venom immunity ability). Instead, druids gain a +8 bonus on saving throws against poisons, and resistance to poison damage equal to one-half their class level.

Fighter

The class abilities of the fighter are modified significantly to make the class more viable throughout a character’s career. See the fighter class description for more details.

Hexblade

(COMPLETE WARRIOR)

• The hexblade receives skill points per level equal to 4 + his Intelligence bonus.
• The arcane resistance ability cannot grant a larger bonus to saving throws than the hexblade’s class level.
• The hexblade’s bonus feat list is expanded. It now includes the following feats, in addition to those listed in Complete Warrior:
  • Arcane Strike
  • Blind-Fight
  • Combat Expertise
  • Combat Reflexes
  • Dodge
  • Improved Disarm
  • Improved Initiative
  • Improved Trip
  • Iron Will
  • Mobility
  • Spring Attack
• The hexblade’s curse ability is modified as follows:

Hexblade’s Curse (Su)

Once per day, as a swift action, a hexblade can unleash a curse upon a foe. The target must be visible to the hexblade and within 60 feet. The target of a hexblade’s curse takes a −2 penalty on attacks, saves, ability checks, skill checks, and caster level checks (e.g. for dispel magic, overcoming spell resistance, etc.) for 1 hour thereafter (or until the target makes a successful saving throw of any kind). A successful Will save (DC 10 + 1⁄2 hexblade’s character level + hexblade’s Cha modifier) negates the effect.

At every four levels beyond 1st (5th, 9th, 13th, and 17th) a hexblade gains the ability to use his curse one additional time per day. Multiple hexblade’s curses don’t stack, and any foe that successfully resists the effect cannot be affected again by the same hexblade’s curse for 24 hours.

Any effect that removes or dispels a curse eliminates the effect of a hexblade’s curse.

• The hexblade’s caster level for his spells is equal to his class level − 3.

• A hexblade character’s hexblade’s curse ability may be improved by taking the Improve Class Ability feat.

Ranger

• If the ranger chooses the two-weapon combat style, his Combat Style Mastery class ability grants the Twin Sword Strike feat instead of the Greater Two-Weapon Fighting feat (which does not exist in Beyond Ragnarok).

• A ranger character’s animal companion may be improved by taking the Improve Class Ability feat.

Rogue

• Rogues add Poisonmaking to their list of class skills.
  • Taking skill mastery (Poisonmaking) also grants the rogue the poison use ability, enabling him to handle poisons without risking exposing himself to their effects.
• The crippling strike rogue special ability now causes the target to advance one step on the Strength damage track, but may only be used when making an attack at the rogue’s highest base attack bonus (not iterative attacks).

• A rogue character’s sneak attack ability may be improved by taking the Improve Class Ability feat.

Sorcerer

• Sorcerers do not need a full-round action to apply metamagic feats to spells. This means, among other things, that sorcerers have the ability to use the Quicken Spell feat.
• The sorcerer gains the feat Eschew Materials for free at 1st level.
• The sorcerer gains 4 skill points per level.

• A sorcerer character’s familiar may be improved by taking the Improve Class Ability feat.

Wizard

• The wizard gains 4 skill points per level.

• A wizard character’s familiar may be improved by taking the Improve Class Ability feat.

Prestige Classes

Not all prestige classes are available by default; those PrCs that are denoted as organization-based require that in-game events lead the character to join the associated organization, and perform whatever tasks are required (see the Special section of the prerequisites) before he may take levels in that class.

All aspects of classes listed here remain unchanged except those that are explicitly modified. For example, a requirement listed in the book is still in effect unless it’s specifically listed as being modified or removed.

Arcane Trickster

• Skill requirements: Decipher Script 4 ranks, Disable Device 4 ranks, Escape Artist 4 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 4 ranks.
• Spell requirements: Ability to cast mage hand and at least one arcane spell of 2nd level or higher.

• The arcane trickster gains 6 skill points per level.
• While an arcane trickster is concentrating on the "sustained force" version of telekinesis, Ranged Legerdemain may be used without breaking the trickster’s concentration.

• An arcane trickster character’s ranged legerdemain ability may be improved by taking the Improve Class Ability feat.

Archmage

• The archmage gains 4 skill points per level.
• The Mastery of Elements ability cannot be used with Conjuration (Creation) spells.

Assassin

This prestige class is organization-based.

• The assassin gains 6 skill points per level.
• Assassins add Poisonmaking to their list of class skills.
  • Assassins gain 1 free skill rank in the Poisonmaking skill at each class level. (This skill rank costs no skill points; it is in addition to any other skills the assassin purchases with skill points.)

• An assassin character’s death attack ability may be improved by taking the Improve Class Ability feat.
• An assassin character’s sneak attack ability may be improved by taking the Improve Class Ability feat.
• An assassin character’s spellcasting may be improved by taking the Improve Class Ability feat.

Blackguard

• Skill requirements: Intimidate 4 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 2 ranks.
• Feat requirements: Disciple of Darkness, Power Attack.
• Special requirement: The character must have made peaceful contact with an evil power, either by summoning, calling, magical communication, or other means.

• The blackguard gains 4 skill points per level.
• Blackguards add Poisonmaking to their list of class skills.
  • Blackguards gain 1 free skill rank in the Poisonmaking skill at each class level. (This skill rank costs no skill points; it is in addition to any other skills the blackguard purchases with skill points.)
• Uses of the smite good ability count as rebuke undead attempts for the purpose of qualifying for, and using, divine feats (such as Divine Might). A use of the smite good ability may be expended to produce its normal effect or to make use of a divine feat, but not both.
• The dark blessing ability cannot grant a larger bonus to saving throws than the blackguard’s class level.

• A blackguard character’s aura of despair ability may be improved by taking the Improve Class Ability feat.
• A blackguard character’s rebuke undead ability may be improved by taking the Improve Class Ability feat.

Cherkess Master Archer

This is a new class in the Slavic Lands campaign setting. See Cherkess master archer class description for details.

Demonologist

(BOOK OF VILE DARKNESS)

• Alignment restriction modified: any evil.
• Skill requirements: Knowledge (arcana) 4 ranks, Knowledge (the planes) 6 ranks.
• Feat requirements: Sacrificial Mastery, Malign Spell Focus.

• A demonologist character’s spellcasting may be improved by taking the Improve Class Ability feat.

Diabolist

(BOOK OF VILE DARKNESS)

• Alignment restriction modified: any evil.
• Base save bonus requirement removed.
• Skill requirements: Bluff 3 ranks, Intimidate 3 ranks, Knowledge (the planes) 6 ranks.
• Feat requirements: Corrupt Spell.

Disciple of Asmodeus Zorayan

(BOOK OF VILE DARKNESS)

This class is renamed. Ignore all flavor text in the Book of Vile Darkness. The class is organization-based.

• Alignment restriction modified: any evil.
• Skill requirements: Bluff 4 ranks, Diplomacy 4 ranks, Sense Motive 4 ranks.
• Feat requirements: Disciple of Darkness.

• A disciple of Zorayan character’s summon hellcat ability may be improved by taking the Improve Class Ability feat.

Disciple of Baalzebul Karayan

(BOOK OF VILE DARKNESS)

This class is renamed. Ignore all flavor text in the Book of Vile Darkness. The class is organization-based.

• Skill requirements: Bluff 6 ranks, Diplomacy 4 ranks, Gather Information 4 ranks.

• A disciple of Karayan character’s summon osyluth ability may be improved by taking the Improve Class Ability feat.

Disciple of Dispater Arakel

(BOOK OF VILE DARKNESS)

This prestige class is significantly modified. Refer to the disciple of Arakel class description for details. The class is organization-based.

Eldritch Knight

• The eldritch knight gains 4 skill points per level.

Frostrager

• The frostrager gains 4 skill points per level.

Frost Mage

(FROSTBURN)

• Feat requirements: Snowcasting, Frozen Magic.

• Piercing Cold (4th level ability) removed, and replaced with Bonus Feat: Lord of the Uttercold ^CA.
• The frost mage gains 4 skill points per level.
• The gain knowledge ability grants the following bonus spells known (instead of those indicated in the class description in Frostburn):
  • Level 3: frost crystal
  • Level 5: glacial globe of invulnerability
  • Level 7: summon monster VII (summoned creatures are cold-subtype versions)
  • Level 9: frostfell

Hierophant

• The hierophant gains 4 skill points per level.
• Add the following to the Hierophant’s special ability list:

Loremaster

• Skill Focus is no longer a prerequisite for entry into the loremaster prestige class.

• The loremaster gains 2 bonus skill points per level (in addition to the 4 skill points per level it normally grants). These bonus skill points may be spent on the following skills only: Appraise, Decipher Script, Knowledge (any), Speak Language.

Occult Slayer

This prestige class is significantly modified. Refer to the occult slayer class description for details.

Shadowdancer

This prestige class is organization-based, and is significantly modified. Refer to the shadowdancer class description for details.

Spellsword

(COMPLETE WARRIOR)

• The spellsword gains 4 skill points per level.
• Channel Spell: The following modifications to this ability are in effect.

Stormsinger

(FROSTBURN)

• Skill requirements: Concentration 8 ranks, Knowledge (nature) 8 ranks, Perform (sing) 8 ranks, Spellcraft 4 ranks.
• Feat requirements: Storm Magic.

Sublime Chord

(COMPLETE ARCANE)

• Skill requirements: Knowledge (arcana) 13 ranks, Listen 13 ranks, Perform (any) 10 ranks, Spellcraft 6 ranks.

• A sublime chord character’s spellcasting may be improved by taking the Improve Class Ability feat.

Supreme Nexus

This is a new class in the Slavic Lands campaign setting. See supreme nexus class description for details.

True Necromancer

This is a new class in the Slavic Lands campaign setting. See true necromancer class description for details.

Ur-Priest

(BOOK OF VILE DARKNESS)

• Base Save Bonus requirement: Removed.
• Skill requirements: Bluff 4 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 6 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 6 ranks, Knowledge (the planes) 6 ranks, Spellcraft 6 ranks.
• Feat requirements: Iron Will, Malign Spell Focus.

• The ur-priest gains 4 skill points per level.
• Steal Spell Like Ability (10th-level ability): This power has an additional restriction. Only spell-like abilities which correspond to spells or directly duplicate the effects of spells may be stolen in this fashion.

• An ur-priest character’s steal spell-like ability ability may be improved by taking the Improve Class Ability feat.
• An ur-priest character’s spellcasting may be improved by taking the Improve Class Ability feat.
• An ur-priest character’s rebuke undead ability may be improved by taking the Improve Class Ability feat.

War Chanter

(COMPLETE WARRIOR)

This prestige class is significantly modified. Refer to the war chanter class description for details.