Expanded Features - Darkness and Light (Patreon)

Harness the powers of light and darkness with these four new akashic archetypes for the Antipaladin, Cavalier, Paladin, and Rogue!

New Antipladin Archetype: Abyss Wielder

The order of knights known as abyss wielders have taught themselves to tap into both the powers of fiends and demons, shaping their abyssal magics into powerful veils with which they accomplish their selfish goals.

Alignment: An abyss wielder can be any evil or neutral alignment. If an abyss wielder worships a deity, that deity must be evil-aligned.

This alters the antipaladin’s alignment restrictions.

Code of Conduct: An abyss wielder who ever willingly commits an altruistic act loses all of their class features except their proficiencies. They should strive to uphold the tenets of their faith, but failing to do so is not a violation of their code, and other than altruistic actions, they can do whatever else they feel is necessary to accomplish their goals.

This alters the antipaladin’s code of conduct.

Wielder of the Abyss (Su)

At 1st level, the abyss wielder gains the ability to shape the Balor’s Whip veil with a veilweaver level equal to their class level, uses their Charisma as their veilweaving modifier, increases their total veils shaped by 1, and gains a pool of essence. This pool of essence contains 1 point of essence at 2nd level, and increases by 1 at each class level except 5, 9, 13, and 17. Shaping veils gained from their abyss wielder levels requires 1 hour of meditation and quiet brooding.

When the abyss wielder invests essence in their Balor’s Whip, all of the additional dice of damage are derived from their unholy power, rather than only half.

In addition, beginning at 2nd level, the wielder of their abyss can use their Balor’s Whip to deliver their touch of corruption. Doing so still requires a standard action, attacks the target’s full AC, and deals both the damage from their whip and their touch of corruption on a successful hit.

This replaces the antipaladin’s smite good class feature.

Abyssal Power (Su)

At 4th level, and again at 13th level, the essence capacity of the abyss wielder’s veils granted by this archetype increases by 1.

Ruler’s Crown (Su)

At 4th level, the abyss wielder gains the ability to shape the Iron Crown veil with a veilweaver level equal to their class level, and increases their total veils shaped by 1.

In addition to its normal effects, each point of essence invested in their Iron Crown increases the range of their aura of cowardice by 5 feet.

This replaces the antipaladin’s channel energy class feature.

Balor’s Bind (Su)

At 5th level, the abyss wielder gains the ability to bind their Balor’s Whip to their Hands chakra. They cannot bind other Hands-slot veils using this ability. At 10th level, they can bind their Balor’s Whip to their Wrists chakra as well.

This replaces the antipaladin’s fiendish boon class feature.

Crown Binding (Su)

At 7th level, the abyss wielder gains the ability to bind their Iron Crown to their head chakra. They cannot bind other Head-slot veils using this ability.

In addition, the abyss wielder’s aura of cowardice imposes a -4 penalty to their saving throw against the effects of their Iron Crown veil, in addition to its normal effects.

Shaper of Fear (Su)

At 10th level, the abyss wielder gains the ability to shape the Pit Fiend’s Shroud veil with a veilweaver level equal to their class level, and increases their total veils shaped by 1.

In addition, whenever a creature enters the aura provided by the Pit Fiend’s Shroud, the abyss wielder can choose whether or not that creature is affected by the veil.

Aura of Corruption (Su)

At 11th level, the abyss wielder’s connection to the lower realms slowly begins to corrupt their nearby allies. As a free action once per turn, the abyss wielder can spend 1 use of their corrupting touch to cause all allies within 10 feet, including themselves, to add the abyss wielder’s Charisma modifier as a damage bonus to their weapon attacks until the beginning of the abyss wielder’s next turn. Allies only receive this bonus damage for attacks they make while within 10 feet of the abyss wielder. This bonus damage results directly from unholy power and is therefore not subject to damage reduction or resistances.

This replaces the antipaladin’s aura of vengeance class feature

Binder of Fear (Su)

At 16th level, the abyss wielder gains the ability to bind their Pit Fiend’s Shroud to their Shoulders chakra. They cannot bind other Shoulders-slot veils using this ability.

Shaper of Hunger (Su)

At 19th level, the abyss wielder gains the ability to shape the Demon Lord’s Hunger veil with a veilweaver level equal to their class level, and increases their total veils shaped by 1.

Whenever this veil deals damage to a weapon, that damage ignores any hardness less than 20.

Body of the Abyss (Su)

At 20th level, the abyss wielder becomes so suffused with the powers of the abyss that they become a fiend themselves. They become an outsider with the native subtype, and their DR increases to 10/good. In addition, they gain the ability to bind their Demon Lord’s Hunger to their Chest chakra. They cannot bind other Chest-slot veils using this ability.

This replaces the antipaladin’s unholy champion class feature.

New Cavalier Archetype: Unicorn Rider

In rare cases, a unicorn will bless a mortal who is pure of heart with a portion of their essence, allowing the mortal to channel their holy energies and call upon them in times of need.

Bond of the Unicorn (Su)

At 1st level, the unicorn rider gains the ability to shape the Sparkling Alicorn veil with a veilweaver level equal to their class level, uses their Charisma as their veilweaving modifier, increases their total veils shaped by 1, and gains a pool of essence equal ro 1/2 their class level (rounded up). Shaping this veil requires 1 hour of contemplation on the magical bond they made with their unicorn companion.

At 2nd level, the unicorn rider gains the ability to shape the Unicorn’s Barding veil with a veilweaver level equal to their class level, and increases their total veils shaped by 1.

At 4th level, and again at 14th level, the maximum essence capacity of their Sparking Alicorn and Unicorn’s Barding veils increase by 1.

This replaces the cavalier’s mount, expert trainer, banner, and greater banner class features.

Unicorn’s Charge (Su)

At 3rd level, the unicorn rider’s bond grants them a boon to their charge attacks when using their Sparkling Alicorn’s gore attack. The unicorn rider receives a +4 bonus on melee attack rolls on a charge that includes an attack made using their gore (instead of the normal +2). In addition, the unicorn rider does not suffer any penalty to AC when making a charge that includes their gore attack.

This modifies the cavalier’s cavalier’s charge class feature.

Alicorn’s Binding (Su)

At 6th level, the unicorn rider gains the ability to bind their Sparkling Alicorn to their Head chakra. They cannot bind other Head-slot veils using this ability. At 12th level, they can bind their Sparkling Alicorn to their Neck chakra as well.

The unicorn conjured by this veil is a conjured wearing a saddle and reins, and accepts the unicorn rider as it’s rider. The unicorn rider can mount the half-celestial unicorn summoned by the veil as part of the same action spent conjuring it.

In addition to the normal effects of the veil, the half-celestial unicorn gains the benefits of all of the unicorn rider’s teamwork feats, as well as the benefits of the unicorn rider’s unicorn’s charge, mighty unicorn’s charge, and supreme unicorn’s charge class features.

At 8th level, and every 2 levels thereafter, the conjured unicorn gains an additional racial Hit Die. Since the half-celestial unicorn is an outsider, this is a 1d10 Hit Die. The half-celestial unicorn has a high Fortitude and Reflex save, and a low Will save. It gains all of the benefits of gaining a racial Hit Die from this ability, including any benefits based on Hit Dice from its half-celestial template.

Mighty Unicorn’s Charge (Su)

At 11th level, the damage dice of the unicorn rider’s gore from their Sparkling Alicorn veil is doubled when used as part of a charge. This extra damage is multiplied on a critical hit. In addition, the unicorn rider can make a free bull rush, disarm, sunder, or trip combat maneuver if their charge attack made using their gore is successful. This free combat maneuver does not provoke an attack of opportunity.

This modifies the cavalier’s mighty charge class feature.

Unicorn’s Binding (Su)

At 15th level, the unicorn rider gains the ability to bind their Unicorn’s Barding to their Belt chakra. They cannot bind other Belt-slot veils using this ability. At 12th level, they can bind their Unicorn’s Barding to their Body chakra as well.

Supreme Unicorn’s Charge (Su)

At 20th level, the damage dice of the unicorn rider’s gore from their Sparkling Alicorn veil is tripled when used as part of a charge. This extra damage is multiplied on a critical hit. In addition, whenever the unicorn rider confirms a critical hit with their gore attack made as part of a charge attack, the target is stunned for 1d4 rounds. A Will save reduces this to staggered for 1d4 rounds. The DC is equal to 10 + the unicorn rider’s base attack bonus.

This modifies the cavalier’s supreme charge class feature.

New Paladin Archetype: Lightwielder

A knightly order who seeks to purify the forces of darkness and evil plaguing the world, lightwielders are formidable warriors who can harness light itself as a weapon in their endless conflict.

Alignment: A lightwielder can be any good or neutral alignment. If a lightwielder worships a deity, that deity must be good-aligned.

This alters the paladin’s alignment restrictions.

Code of Conduct: A lightwielder who ever willingly commits an evil act or intentionally assists a minion of darkness loses all of their class features except their proficiencies. They should strive to uphold the tenets of their faith, but failing to do so is not a violation of their code, and other than evil actions, they can do whatever else they feel is necessary to fight against the forces of darkness.

This alters the paladin’s code of conduct.

Wielder of the Light (Su)

At 1st level, the lightwielder gains the ability to shape the Banelight Vortices veil with a veilweaver level equal to their class level, uses their Charisma as their veilweaving modifier, increases their total veils shaped by 1, and gains a pool of essence. This pool of essence contains 1 point of essence at 2nd level, and increases by 1 at each class level except 5, 9, 13, and 17. Shaping veils gained from their lightwielder levels requires 1 hour of meditation and quiet contemplation.

When shaped by a lightwielder, they can choose to make ranged touch attacks made using their Banelight Vortices as melee touch attacks instead. For each point of essence invested in the veil, the lightwielder increases their reach by 5 feet when making these touch attacks.

This replaces the paladin’s smite evil class feature.

Lightbinder (Su)

At 2nd level, the lightwielder gains the ability to bind their Banelight Vortices to their Hands chakra. They cannot bind other Hands-slot veils using this ability.

This replaces the paladin’s lay on hands class feature.

Light Capacity Increase (Su)

At 3rd level, and again at 9th and 15th level, the essence capacity of the lightwielder’s veils granted by this archetype increases by 1.

This replaces the paladin’s mercy class feature.

Eyes Light (Su)

At 5th level, the lightwielder gains the ability to shape the White Rider’s Sash veil with a veilweaver level equal to their class level, and increases their total veils shaped by 1.

As a free action, the lightwielder can change the light generated by the White Rider’s Sash from a 60 ft. cone to a 30 ft. radius, or vice versa. The radius of this light is increased by 5 feet per point of essence invested in the veil.

This replaces the paladin’s divine bond class feature.

Purifying Light (Su)

At 6th level, the lightwielder reaches mastery with their Banelight Vortices, allowing them to attack the same creature multiple times with their vortexes of light produced by the veil. A single creature can only have two attacks made against them using the vortexes at 6th level, increasing to three attacks at 11th level and four attacks at 16th level. For each attack made using the vortexes against a single creature beyond the first suffers a cumulative -5 penalty to its attack roll.

Light’s Mercy (Su)

At 7th level, the lightwielder gains the ability to bind their White Rider’s Sash to their Head chakra. They cannot bind other Head-slot veils using this ability.

When using the burst of light unleashed when taking damage from this veil’s Head bind effect, the lightwielder and their allies are immune to the effects.

Blinding Light (Su)

At 10th level, the lightwielder gains the ability to shape the Luminosity of the Lurker in Light veil with a veilweaver level equal to their class level, and increases their total veils shaped by 1.

When hiding in areas of bright light, the lightwielder uses the higher of their ranks in the Stealth skill and their paladin level when determining their bonus to Stealth checks, treats Stealth as a class skill, and ignores any penalty to their Stealth from their armor or shield. If the lightwielder has no ranks in the Stealth skill, they gain the class skill bonus when hiding in areas of bright light.

Aura of Purification (Su)

At 11th level, the lightwielder grants the ability to purify the forces of darkness to all allies within 10 feet. Those allies add the lightwielder’s Charisma modifier as bonus damage to their weapon attacks made against undead creatures. Against creatures specifically vulnerable to sunlight or bright light, this bonus damage is multiplied by 1.5 (rounded down). This damage bypasses all damage reduction and energy resistance, and is not multiplied by a critical hit.

When using their Banelight Vortices, the lightwielder instead adds their Charisma to the damage dealt by their vortexes of light. This additional damage is halved against constructs and inanimate objects, multiplied by 1.5 (rounded down) against undead, doubles against creatures specifically vulnerable to sunlight or bright light, and is multiplied on a critical hit.

Lightwielder’s Aura (Su)

At 13th level, the lightwielder’s allies benefit from the effects of the lightwielder’s auras while within the area of light provided by the lightwielder’s White Rider’s Sash veil, in addition to the normal radius of 10 feet.

Rider of Light (Su)

At 16th level, while the lightwielder has their White Rider’s Sash shaped they gain the benefits of its Belt bind without having to shape or bind the veil to that slot. They still gain the benefits of the veil’s Head bind as well.

One with the Light (Su)

At 19th level, the lightwielder gains the ability to bind their Luminosity of the Lurker in Light to their Body chakra. They cannot bind other Body-slot veils using this ability.

Body of Light (Su)

At 20th level, the lightwielder becomes so suffused with light that they become a being of light themself. They become an outsider with the native subtype, and their DR increases to 10/evil. In addition, the damage dice of the lightwielder’s Banelight Vortices are treated as if they had rolled their highest value when used against creatures in bright light.

This replaces the paladin’s holy champion class feature.

New Rogue and Unchained Rogue Archetype: Shadow Shaper

Shaping the shadows around themselves allows the keen and daring rogues known as shadow shapers to accomplish feats of which mundane thieves and scoundrels only dream possible.

Shaper of Shadows (Su)

At 2nd level, the shadow shaper gains the ability to shape the Darkwalker Hood veil with a veilweaver level equal to their class level, uses their Charisma as their veilweaving modifier, increases their total veils shaped by 1, and gains a pool of essence. This pool of essence contains 1 point of essence at 2nd level, and increases by 1 at each class level except 5, 9, 13, and 17. Shaping veils gained from their shadow shaper levels requires 1 hour of meditation and quiet contemplation.

For a shadow shaper, the Darkwalker Hood provides additional benefits. When the veil is invested with 1 point of essence, the shadow shaper gains darkvision out to 60 feet; if they already have darkvision, it increases by 30 feet. When the veil is invested with 7 points of essence, the shadow shaper gains the See In Darkness ability.

This replaces the rogue’s and unchained rogue’s rogue talent gained at 2nd level.

Shadow Capacity Increase (Su)

At 3rd level, and again at 9th and 15th level, the essence capacity of the shadow shaper’s veils granted by this archetype increases by 1.

This replaces the rogue’s trap sense and unchained rogue’s danger sense abilities.

Darkwalker Binding (Su)

At 5th level, the shadow shaper gains the ability to bind their Darkwalker Hood to their Head chakra. They cannot bind other Head-slot veils using this ability.

This replaces the rogue’s and unchained rogue’s sneak attack die gained at 5th level.

Shaper of Shadows, Improved (Su)

At 6th level, the shadow shaper gains the ability to shape the Darkholds veil with a veilweaver level equal to their class level, and increases their total veils shaped by 1.

For a shadow shaper, the Darkholds veil provides additional benefits. When the shadow shaper removes essence from the veil, items are not ejected from the veil. Instead, those items that would normally be ejected are shrouded by protective darkness within the veil and cannot be retrieved until the veil is once again invested with essence. Veils are ejected normally from the veil if the shadow shaper is slain, or if the veil is sundered, dispelled, or unshaped.

This replaces the rogue’s and unchained rogue’s rogue talent gained at 6th level.

Darkholds Binding (Su)

At 9th level, the shadow shaper gains the ability to bind their Darkholds to their Wrists chakra. They cannot bind other Wrists-slot veils using this ability.

This replaces the rogue’s and unchained rogue’s sneak attack die gained at 9th level.

Shaper of Shadows, Greater (Su)

At 10th level, the shadow shaper gains the ability to shape the Cloak of Darkness veil with a veilweaver level equal to their class level, and increases their total veils shaped by 1.

For a shadow shaper, the Cloak of Darkness veil provides additional benefits. When the veil is invested with at least 1 point of essence, the shadow shaper is always treated as being in a location of dim light for the effects of their veils granted by this archetype.

This replaces the rogue’s and unchained rogue’s rogue talent gained at 10th level.

Darkness Binding (Su)

At 13th level, the shadow shaper gains the ability to bind their Cloak of Darkness to their Shoulders chakra. They cannot bind other Shoulders-slot veils using this ability.

This replaces the rogue’s and unchained rogue’s sneak attack die gained at 13th level.

Shaper of Shadows, Ultimate (Su)

At 14th level, the shadow shaper gains the ability to shape the Voidwalkers veil with a veilweaver level equal to their class level, and increases their total veils shaped by 1.

For a shadow shaper, the Voidwalkers veil provides additional benefits. The shadow shaper gains a +2 Dodge bonus to their AC against attacks of opportunity while they have the veil shaped, increasing by +1 per point of essence invested in the veil.

This replaces the rogue’s and unchained rogue’s rogue talent gained at 14th level.

Voidwalkers Binding (Su)

At 17th level, the shadow shaper  gains the ability to bind their Voidwalkers to their Belt chakra. They cannot bind other Belt-slot veils using this ability.

This replaces the rogue’s and unchained rogue’s sneak attack die gained at 17th level.

OGL and Legal Attached.