d20 4e Expeditious Retreat Press Advanced Player's Guide.pdf

Advanced

Player ’ s Guide

written by

Ari Marmell

Expeditious Retreat Press

www.xrpshop.citymax.com

C REDITS

Author: Ari Marmell

Additional Material: Owen K. C. Stephens

Editor: Joseph Browning

Cover Artist: Claudio Pozas

Internal Artists: Joan Guardiet, Jeremy McHugh,

Claudio Pozas and Joe Calkins

Layout: Suzi Yee

Ari’s Special Thanks: To C. A. Suleiman, C. Robert Cargill, Eytan Bernstein, and Rob Schwalb. Without their

thoughts and suggestions, this book wouldn’t be even remotely as cool as it is. Thanks, guys.

To Clark Peterson, for the initial idea, and for being generous enough to relinquish it.

And with the utmost respect to the life and memory of E. Gary Gygax, without whom this book, and this hobby,

and this author’s career and deep love of fantasy, would never have existed. You created something incredible, Gary.

Thank you.

T ABLE OF C ONTENTS

Author’s Introduction....................................................3

Chapter One: Races.........................................4

Earth Gnome...........................................................4

Racial Traits.....................................................4

Physical Qualities.............................................5

Playing an earth gnome...................................5

Earth Gnome Adventurers...............................5

Orc-Blooded............................................................6

Racial Traits.....................................................6

Physical Qualities.............................................6

Playing an Orc-Blooded...................................7

Orc-Blooded Adventurers................................7

Shire Halling..........................................................8

Racial Traits.....................................................8

Physical Qualities.............................................8

Playing a Shire Halling...................................9

Halling Adventurers........................................9

Chapter Two: Classes....................................10

A Word From the Author.......................................11

Martial Artist..........................................................11

Martial Artist Paragon Paths.........................24

Master of Flowers....................................24

Master of the Four Winds.......................25

Stick Fighter............................................26

Unseen Ninja...........................................27

Nature Priest.........................................................28

Nature Priest Paragon Paths..........................46

Hierophant..............................................46

Stormwalker............................................47

Terrain Guardian.....................................48

Wildshaper...............................................49

Savage Warrior......................................................51

Savage Warrior Paragon Paths......................63

Ferocious Brawler....................................63

Inexorable Vanguard...............................64

Raging Berserker.....................................65

Unmoving Bastion...................................65

Troubadour...........................................................67

Troubadour Paragon Paths............................80

Dreamcaster............................................80

Eldritch Trickster.....................................81

Mystic Healer...........................................82

Spymaster................................................82

Spellbinder............................................................84

Chapter Three: Other Paragon Paths............92

Acrobat .................................................................92

Merciless Assassin................................................93

Specialist Mage.....................................................94

Stalwart Cavalier...................................................95

Chapter Four: Feats......................................97

Heroic Tier Feats..................................................97

Paragon Tier Feats................................................98

Multiclass Feats....................................................99

Chapter Five: Rituals..................................100

Chapter Six: Optional Rules.........................103

Crafting Rules.....................................................103

Craft Vocations.............................................105

Lingering Wounds..............................................106

Modeling and Tracking Lingering Injuries.........107

Optional Addendum: Injury Location.................107

A Final Word..............................................................108

Powers Index.............................................................109

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, the DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Compatibility Logo, D&D, PLAYER’S HANDBOOK, DUNGEON MASTER’S GUIDE,

and MONSTER MANUAL are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. in the USA and other countries and are used with permission. Certain

materials, including 4E References in this publication, D&D core rules mechanics, and all D&D characters and their distinctive likenesses, are

property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc., and are used with permission under the Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition Game System License. All 4E

References are listed in the 4E System Reference Document, available at www.wizards.com/d20.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS 4th Edition PLAYER’S HANDBOOK, written by Rob Heinsoo, Andy Collins, and James Wyatt; DUNGEON

Author ’ s Introduction

Well... Fourth Edition.

They’re not words I’d ever have thought to hear, when

I irst picked up a red cardboard box with a green dragon

on the cover back in 1983. And even as recently as a year

or so ago, they’re not words I’d have though to hear any

time soon.

But you know what? I’m glad I did. I like Fourth

Edition. I like the rules. I like the feel of it. I even, both

despite and because of some fundamental changes,

really like the lavor. It’s interesting to read and inspiring

to play—something that, I have to admit, I felt was

sometimes a bit lacking during the 3E era.

That said, though, there are a few things missing.

Some of the classic races and classes, a few interesting

options, aren’t available. Oh, they will be, or at least many

of them will. But they’re not yet.

Perhaps more to the point, though, Fourth Edition

has a very different aesthetic than First Edition did.

Times have changed, and the rules and the mood of the

game have changed with them. That’s just ine, for the

most part. But there’s certainly a portion of the market

that prefers the classic feel. And even as much as I like

the mood and lavor of 4E, there are frequent times when

I want to return to my roots, to play a game that feels and

runs more like the sessions of old.

So when Clark Peterson came to me and asked me

to be a guiding part of the Advanced Player’s Guide for

Necromancer Games—to help ill in the current gaps, to

help the transition from “3rd Edition Rules, 1st Edition

Feel” to “4th Edition Rules, 1st Edition Feel,” there was no

possible way I could refuse.

It was certainly a unique experience. See, I had access

to the rules before Clark did, and I wasn’t allowed to share

them. So a lot of the development of this book consisted of

exchanges much like this:

But lest you think I’m being negative, I need to stress

that it’s all worked out. Despite the unusual hurdles, I’m

thrilled with the way the book turned out. I think the

classes, the races, the paragon paths, and the rituals all go

a very long way toward adding fun and interesting options

to 4E, and carrying forward much of the lavor of the 1E

days. Even without the dificulties early in the process, I

honestly don’t think it could have turned out any better;

heck, it’s possible the material is better for the organic

nature of its birth.

And for a while, I didn’t think any of you were going

to get to see it. See, for various business and legal reasons,

Clark decided that Necromancer Games wasn’t going to

convert to 4E as rapidly as he thought. He could have sat

on the manuscript and waited, but he was kind enough to

return it to me, and let me sell it elsewhere, rather than

letting it linger in limbo.

It took barely a few hours after he announced this fact

for Joe Browning to contact me about the book, and mere

seconds after I got the e-mail to decide that they were the

right match.

I’ve known Joe and Suzi for several years now, and

we’ve been looking for the opportunity to work together,

but the timing never worked out. Well, this time it did,

and I couldn’t be happier.

So what have Expeditious Retreat Press and I got

for you? Well, a few racial options for one. If the current

gnome isn’t quite to your liking, take a gander at the

earth gnome, a variant species that might more closely

resemble what you remember from prior editions. There

are the orc-blooded, for those of you who can’t get enough

of big, strong, mean halfbreeds. And of course, we’ve got

the shire halling, another variant on a core race. He’s an

older fashioned halling, not the lithe athlete of modern

editions but the portly, comfort-loving, hairy-footed

hobbi... er, little guy of fantasy’s most classic roots.

The core of the game, of course, has always been

classes. 4E provides an excellent array, but if your old

favorites haven’t made an appearance yet, we’ve got you

covered. From raging savages to mystic martial artists,

inspiring heralds to priests of nature, they’re all making

their 4E debuts in the APG . Heck, we’ve even called an old

friend off the bench, but don’t believe anything you see or

hear when he’s around; he’s a tricky fellow, that one.

There’s more, of course, as I mentioned above—new

paragon paths, new rituals, new feats—but the races and

classes represent the true beating heart of the Advanced

Player’s Guide , the reason for its existence. I hope you’re

at least half as excited to play them, moving into the

game’s new era, as I was to design them.

Clark: I’d really like us to include X.

Me (thinking): Sure, I’d love to include that. Or:

Nope, that’s not going to work under the 4E rules. Or:

I’m already doing that. Or: That’s actually already in the

PHB . Or ...

Me (speaking): Yeah, that’d be cool.

I literally had to develop and write my portions of this

book knowing what Clark wanted, but not being able to

share with him the speciics of what I was doing, or even

tell him how many of his goals I’d be able to meet.

Nor was that the only dificulty. I’ve got a pretty

good grasp of the 4E rules, but let’s be honest: It is a new

system, with its own quirks. There were a few things that

I wanted to do that I simply couldn’t, since I didn’t know

how to balance them under the new rules—and I don’t

want to break the game quite this early in the process.

(We’ll save that for later.)

Ari “Mouseferatu” Marmell

August 4, 2008

Chapter One

Races

The D&D 4 E P LAYER ’ S H ANDBOOK includes a number of fun

and interesting races to populate your game, including

most of the classics from older editions. Most—not all.

Presented below are new races, either those that haven’t

yet made the transition to the new edition, or more

classically themed variants on those that have.

These new races follow all the same rules and

formatting as those from the D&D 4E Player’s

Handbook .

E ARTH G NOME

Miners, wanderers, and tricksters who dwell either in

the wilds or underground, often underestimated until it

is far too late.

R ACIAL T RAITS

Average Height: 3’11” – 4’4”

Average Weight: 78 – 90 lb.

Ability Scores: +2 Constitution, +2 Intelligence

Size: Small (See the halling entry, in the D&D 4E

Players Handbook , for rules governing Small

characters)

Speed: 5 squares

Vision: Low-light

Languages: Common, Dwarven

Skill Bonuses: +2 Arcana, +2 Stealth

Animal Afinity: Earth gnomes have a strange,

almost spiritual afinity for tiny burrowing

mammals (rabbits, badgers, weasels, and the

like). Once per day, all earth gnomes can cast the

Commune With Animals ritual (page 100) without

cost, even if they do not formally know it or cannot

normally cast rituals. They may only target tiny

burrowing mammals when doing so. (Earth

gnomes can choose to learn the ritual normally,

in order to commune with other animals, but they

must meet all prerequisites and pay all costs as

normal.)

Bastion of Illusion: You gain a +1 racial bonus on

your Will defense, and a +5 racial bonus to saving

throws against illusion effects.

Hasty Stealth: If you have cover or concealment

when you make an initiative check, you can make

a Stealth check to escape notice.

Battleield Trickery: You can use battleield

trickery as an at-will power.

Battleield Trickery

Earth Gnome Racial Power

Through a combination of swift, deceptive motions and

innate illusions, you avoid providing the opening your

opponent expects.

At-Will

Minor Action Personal

Effect: The next ranged or area attack you make, so long

as it occurs before the end of your next turn, does not

provoke opportunity attacks.

While some earth gnome communities are insular

indeed, many earth gnomes are friendly, outgoing, even

prankish—a persona that, in combination with their

small size, prevents most other races from taking them

seriously. Some ignore the attitudes of the larger beings,

while others set out to prove themselves, but all earth

gnomes take an intense pride in their heritage.

Play an earth gnome if you want...

• to play a good-hearted trickster whose jovial

attitude belies a far more serious side.

• to be both outgoing and determined, someone

capable of working toward what he wants under

any circumstances.

More fey than the dour dwarves but far earthier than the

elves or their cousins among the other gnome races, earth

gnomes occupy an odd middle ground between worlds.

Chapter One: Races

• to play a spellcaster or an archer capable of

launching attacks from surprising positions on

the battleield.

• to play a spellbinder, a warlock, or a wizard.

sharing. In truth, however, earth gnomes don’t seek

wealth for its own sake, but rather for the beneit of their

clans or parties, and as a means toward achieving other

goals. Even when an earth gnome isn’t actively working

toward any particular objective, he gathers wealth

simply on the off chance he’ll need it later, not because

he has any real desire to be rich.

Where earth gnomes most frequently come into

conlict with others is over the art of deception. To an

earth gnome, lies, illusions, and deceit are just tools

like any other, to be employed in order to achieve their

objectives. While an earth gnome isn’t likely to lie to a

friend—what would be the point?—he’s also not likely

to comprehend quite why so many other races take

deception as a personal affront.

P HYSICAL Q UALITIES

Earth gnomes average slightly over four feet in height,

and tend toward wiry or slender builds. While pale earth

gnomes are not unheard of, most range toward ruddier

or darker skin tones, from the brown hue of some

humans to the actual gray of stone. Their hair, too, tends

toward dark, though a signiicant minority instead sport

silver or white hair even from a young age. Male earth

gnomes tend to grow facial hair, though they are not

nearly so obsessive about it as are dwarves.

Earth gnomes age slightly more slowly than their

dwarven cousins, reaching maturity just a little older

than humans do. They tend to remain healthy and

vigorous past 300 years old, and some earth gnomes

survive to over 350.

Earth Gnome Characteristics: Easy-going,

deceptive, resolute, stubborn, sharing, avaricious,

cooperative, tricky.

Earth Gnome Male Names: Arbwell, Berden, Firnok,

Jebedir, Kemble, Mimr, Parnor, Rolbin, Sorobir, Zeffram

Earth Gnome Female Names: Ballace, Chifriri,

Gidrina, Fooshienne, Lobeya, Miai, Oresse, Risstle,

Thingwen, Zeffereya

P LAYING AN EARTH GNOME

The majority of earth gnomes (or at least the majority

of those who deal with other races) come across as easy

going and even fun-loving. That doesn’t mean they’re

incapable of taking things seriously, or that they’re

constant pranksters, so much that they simply refuse

to let life get them down. Even insular earth gnome

communities that seek to avoid contact with the outside

share such good humor amongst themselves. Because of

this attitude, it often surprises others just how strong-

willed earth gnomes can be. Once an earth gnome has

set his sights on a goal, he can be as tireless as a dwarf,

and quick to igure a way past almost any obstacle.

Earth gnomes don’t seem to care much about the

origins of their race. Some maintain that they descend

from creatures of the Feywild, others that they sprung

from the earth alongside the dwarves, but all of these are

merely matters for discussion, not points of contention.

They do, however, take great pride in their extended

families and in the accomplishments of their ancestors.

To an earth gnome, the greatest honor they can do their

forebears is to acknowledge the ancestor’s inspiration

while striving for ever greater accomplishments.

While individual accomplishments are celebrated,

where earth gnomes truly shine is teamwork. To

an earth gnome, a family (or adventuring party)

accomplishment, toward which everyone has worked,

is of far greater value than anything they might achieve

alone. Earth gnomes are strong believers in giving credit

where it’s due, so long as they’re granted their own fare

share of accolades as well.

Like dwarves, earth gnomes often have a strong

acquisitive streak, making them seem greedy to

outsiders—a surprise, given their propensity toward

E ARTH G NOME A DVENTURERS

Three sample gnome adventurers are described below.

Thingwen has left her home community, one of the

more insular groups of earth gnomes, in order to continue

her studies as a wizard. She has spent many decades as

an apprentice, hoping to follow in the footsteps of her

mother and father, both of whom were also arcanists.

She’s decided, however, that if she is to truly honor

their accomplishments, she must surpass them—and

she cannot do that at home. Thingwen is exceedingly

intelligent, but woefully naïve regarding the outside

world. While she’d be just as happy inding a master

to teach her secrets and spells unavailable back home,

she’s likely to wind up caught up in the adventuring

lifestyle purely out of a sense of burning curiosity and an

ignorance of what sorts of evil exist in the region.

The warlock Zeffram has long been fascinated with

the power in the stars—astrology and divination, yes, but

he always felt there was more to it than that. One night

while exploring an ancient library, he and the adventurers

he’d hired to escort him were attacked by aberrant things,

among the worst the Far Realm could produce. Zeffram

isn’t certain how he survived; he remembers a great talon

rising up to strike him down, and he remembers lifting

an ancient tome to block it. When next he awoke, he lay

beneath the night sky, the tome open to the irst of many

ancient treatises on the power of the beasts that dwell

beyond the stars. Zeffram, now a warlock, sometimes

wonders precisely what it is that grants him his power—

but he doesn’t worry about it enough to stop using it.

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