The Dragonlance Nexus

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Hunter of the Dark

D&D 3e (3.0/3.5) Rules

by Paul Record


Author's Note: The Hunter of the Dark (Bündesphar) prestige class was adapted from the Stalker of Kharash prestige class in the Book of Exalted Deeds.

Canus, Bond-companion of the White Lady, is a Beast Lord of the Wolves. As a fierce opponent of Chaos, Canus blesses those who hunt the Dark, threads or shards of Chaos given blasphemous life by the night gods. The Hunters of the Dark are a faction within the Bündesphar Corp devoted to hunting and killing the Dark under Canus's guidance.

Hunters of the Dark hunt in packs with a leader, second in command and a decoy. The decoy fulfills the same basic role that an omega wolf does in a typical wolf pack, but with the additional duty of acting as bait. Hunters can be found in any environment, tirelessly moving in search of their prey.

Requirements

To qualify to become a Hunter of the Dark, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.

Alignment: Any Neutral
Skills: Hide 8 ranks, Move Silently 8 ranks
Feats: Alertness, Bundesphar Combat Style (see below), Track
Special: Must be a Bündesphar.

Class Skills: Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge (Geography, Int), Knowledge (The Dark, Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Ride (Dex), Search (Int), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), Swim (Str) and Use Rope (Dex).
Skill Points at Each Level: 6 + INT modifier.

Class Features

All of the Following are class features of the Hunter of the Dark prestige class.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Hunter of the Dark is proficient with all martial weapons, but no armor or shield.

Spells per Day: Starting at 1st level, and at each Hunter of the Dark level thereafter, the character gains new spells per day as if she had also gained a level in the ranger class. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If the character had no ranger levels before becoming a 1st-level Hunter of the Dark, he gains the spellcasting ability of a 1st-level ranger - that is, no spellcasting ability - when he takes his first hunter level. When he becomes a 4th-level hunter, he gains the spellcasting ability (as a 4th-level ranger) assuming his Wisdom score is high enough to grant him a bonus 1st-level spell.

A Hunter of the Dark's caster level is one-half the sum of his ranger levels and his hunter level.

Scent of Chaos (Su): A Hunter of the Dark has an unusual ability that combines the scent special quality with the detect chaos spell. The hunter can detect chaotic opponents within 30 feet by their scent of chaos. If the opponent is upwind, the range increases to 60 feet; if downwind, it drops to 15 feet. A strong aura of chaos (an outsider or scourge of chaos 5-10 HD, a chaos elemental 10-21 HD, a chaotic creature 25-54 HD, or a chaotic magic item or spell with a caster level of 10-21) can be detected at twice these ranges. An overwhelming aura of chaos (a chaotic outsider or scourge of chaos with 11 HD or more, a chaos elemental with 22 HD or more, a chaotic creature with 55 HD or more, or a chaotic magic item or spell with a caster level of 22 or higher) can be detected at triple normal range.

When a hunter detects a scent, the exact location is not revealed - only its presence somewhere within range. The hunter can take a move action to note the direction of the scent. Whenever the creature comes within 5 feet of the source, the hunter knows the source's location.

Favored Enemy - Chaotic Outsider (Ex): At 2nd level, a Hunter of the Dark gains chaotic outsider of all kinds as a favored enemy. He gains a +1 bonus on Bluff, Listen, Sense Motive, Spot, and Survival checks when using these skills against chaotic outsiders. He also gains a +1 bonus on weapon damage rolls against chaotic outsiders. This bonus stacks with any other favored enemy bonus the hunter may have such as from the ranger class.

Hide in Plain Sight (Ex): When a Hunter of the Dark reaches 4th level; he can use the Hide skill even when being observed. With at least one-quarter cover or one-quarter concealment, the stalker can hide from view.

Track Chaos (Su): A 5th-level hunter can use the Track feat to track a chaotic creature by its lingering chaotic aura, making a Wisdom (or Survival) check to find or follow a track. The typical DC for a fresh trail is 10 (no matter what kind of surface holds the scent). The DC for tracking a normal aura increases by 2 every 10 minutes, for tracking a strong aura by every 2 hours, and for tracking an overwhelming aura by 2 every day. This ability otherwise follows the rules for the Track feat. The hunter can ignore the effects of surface conditions and poor visibility.

Smite Chaos (Su): Once per day, a 6th-level Hunter of the Dark may attempt to smite chaos with one normal melee attack. She adds her Wisdom bonus (if any) to her attack roll and deals 1 extra point of damage per class level. This bonus stacks with favored enemy bonuses. If the hunter accidentally smites a creature that is not chaotic, the smite has no effect, but the ability is still used up for that day.

At 8th level, a Hunter of the Dark can use this ability twice per day, and at 10th-level, he can use it three times a day.

New Feat

Bundesphar Combat Style

You have trained in the fighting style of the Bundesphar and employ their tactics in combat.

Prerequisite: Membership in the Bundesphar.
Benefit: You gain a +4 bonus on trip attacks and on checks to resist an opponent's trip attacks.
Special: Characters with this feat may choose the Improved Trip feat even if they don't meet the other prerequisites.

The Hunter of the Dark
Level Base Attack Bonus Fort Save Ref Save Will Save Special Spells per Day
1st +1 +0 +2 +0 Scent of Chaos +1 level of ranger class
2nd +2 +0 +3 +0 Favored enemy - chaotic outsider +1 level of ranger class
3rd +3 +1 +3 +1 - +1 level of ranger class
4th +4 +1 +4 +1 Hide in plain sight +1 level of ranger class
5th +5 +1 +4 +1 Track evil +1 level of ranger class
6th +6 +2 +5 +2 Smite chaos 1/day +1 level of ranger class
7th +7 +2 +5 +2 - +1 level of ranger class
8th +8 +2 +6 +2 Smite chaos 2/day +1 level of ranger class
9th +9 +3 +6 +3 - +1 level of ranger class
10th +10 +3 +7 +3 Smite chaos 3/day +1 level of ranger class

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