View source for Snake Handler Priest (3.5e Class)

{{Incomplete}}
{{author
|author_name=Nolanf
|date_created=Oct. 15, 2013
|adopter=
|date_adopted= 
|status=In Progress
|editing=
|balance=High
}}<div class="blank">
[[Summary::This is like a cleric with relatively low spellcasting ability, but relatively high ability to summon and fight alongside snakes!]]
[[Length::20]]
[[Minimum Level::1]]
[[Base Attack Bonus Progression::Moderate]]
[[Fortitude Save Progression::Good]]
[[Reflex Save Progression::Poor]]
[[Will Save Progression::Good]]
[[Class Ability::Prepared Divine Spellcasting
[[Class Ability Progression::Other]]

{{3.5e Class Alignments |lg, ng, ln, n, le, ne}}
</div>

==Snake Handler Priest==

Snake Handler Priests are religious zealots who live in small towns in the hills, on the edge of the wilderness, and the fringe of society. Though snake handling is frowned upon in most cultures, the priests of this faith defend their practice staunchly. They avidly proclaim that their faith gives them power over the crawling things of the earth and they wield this power with the grace of the divine.

===Making a Snake Handler Priest===

Although strength, dexterity, and fortitude may serve well in a fight, a snake handler needs only the Wisdom of the Lord and the Charisma of his own spirit. Amen.

'''Abilities:''' All prepared spells are Wisdom-based, but a high Charisma score is often needed for controlling the snakes. Intelligence will be useful when increasing Knowledge and other Skills. In the beginning levels, some combat ability may be necessary, so a little bit of Strength and Dexterity are not bad to have.

'''Races:''' People of all races who do not fear the serpent's bite may enter the fold of the snake handler priest.

'''Alignment:''' Any non-chaotic.

'''Starting Gold:''' 3d8&times;10 gp.

'''[[SRD:Race Descriptions#Starting Age|Starting Age]]:''' Complex

{| class="zebra d20"
|+
<div>{{Anchor|Table: The Snake Handler Priest}}</div>
Hit Die: d8
|-
! rowspan="2" | Level
! rowspan="2" | [[BAB|Base<br/>Attack Bonus]]
! colspan="3" | [[SRD:Saving Throw|Saving Throw]]s
! rowspan="2" | Special
! colspan="8" | [[#Spells|Spells per Day]]
|-
! [[SRD:Saving Throw#Fortitude|Fort]] || [[SRD:Saving Throw#Reflex|Ref]] || [[SRD:Saving Throw#Will|Will]]
! 0 || 1<sup>st</sup> || 2<sup>nd</sup> || 3<sup>rd</sup> || 4<sup>th</sup> || 5<sup>th</sup> || 6<sup>th</sup> || 7<sup>th</sup>
|-
|1st||class="left" | +0 || +2 || +0 || +2
| class="left" | [[Snake_Handler_Priest_(3.5e_Class)#Serpent_Empathy|Serpent Empathy]], [[Snake_Handler_Priest_(3.5e_Class)#Serpent_Companion|Serpent Companion]]
| 2 || 0+1 ||—||—||—||—||—||—
|-
|2nd||class="left" | +1 || +3 || +0 || +3
| class="left" | ''[[Snake_Handler_Priest_(3.5e_Class)#Summon_Serpent_I|Summon Serpent I]]''
| 2 || 1+1 ||—||—||—||—||—||—
|-
|3rd||class="left" | +2 || +3 || +1 || +3
| class="left" | [[Snake_Handler_Priest_(3.5e_Class)#Faith_Against_Poison|Faith Against Poison]]
| 3 || 1+1 ||—||—||—||—||—||—
|-
|4th||class="left" | +3 || +4 || +1 || +4
| class="left" | ''[[Snake_Handler_Priest_(3.5e_Class)#Summon_Serpent_II|Summon Serpent II]]''
| 3 || 2+1 || 0+1 ||—||—||—||—||—
|-
|5th||class="left" | +3 || +4 || +1 || +4
| class="left" | -
| 4 || 2+1 || 1+1 ||—||—||—||—||—
|-
|6th||class="left" | +4 || +5 || +2 || +5
| class="left" | ''[[Snake_Handler_Priest_(3.5e_Class)#Summon_Serpent_III|Summon Serpent III]]''
| 4 || 3+1 || 1+1 ||—||—||—||—||—
|-
|7th||class="left" | +5 || +5 || +2 || +5
| class="left" | ''[[Snake_Handler_Priest_(3.5e_Class)#Sepia_Snake_Sigil|Sepia Snake Sigil]]''
| 5 || 3+1 || 2+1 || 0+1 ||—||—||—||—
|-
|8th||class="left" | +6/+1 || +6 || +2 || +6
| class="left" | ''[[Snake_Handler_Priest_(3.5e_Class)#Summon_Serpent_IV|Summon Serpent IV]]''
| 5 || 4+1 || 2+1 || 1+1 ||—||—||—||—
|-
|9th||class="left" | +6/+1 || +6 || +3 || +6
| class="left" | -
| 6 || 4+1 || 3+1 || 1+1 ||—||—||—||—
|-
|10th||class="left" | +7/+2 || +7 || +3 || +7
| class="left" | ''[[Snake_Handler_Priest_(3.5e_Class)#Summon_Serpent_V|Summon Serpent V]]''
| 6 || 5+1 || 3+1 || 2+1 || 0+1 ||—||—||—
|-
|11th||class="left" | +8/+3 || +8 || +3 || +7
| class="left" | -
| 6 || 5+1 || 4+1 || 2+1 || 1+1 ||—||—||—
|-
|12th||class="left" | +9/+4 || +8 || +4 || +8
| class="left" | ''[[Snake_Handler_Priest_(3.5e_Class)#Summon_Divine_Serpent_I|Summon Divine Serpent I]]''
| 6 || 5+1 || 4+1 || 3+1 || 1+1 ||—||—||—
|-
|13th||class="left" | +9/+4 || +9 || +4 || +8
| class="left" | [[Snake_Handler_Priest_(3.5e_Class)#Slippery_Mind|Slippery Mind]]
| 6 || 5+1 || 5+1 || 3+1 || 2+1 || 0+1 ||—||—
|-
|14th||class="left" | +10/+5 || +9 || +4 || +9
| class="left" | ''[[Snake_Handler_Priest_(3.5e_Class)#Summon_Divine_Serpent_II|Summon Divine Serpent II]]''
| 6 || 5+1 || 5+1 || 4+1 || 2+1 || 1+1 ||—||—
|-
|15th||class="left" | +11/+6/+1 || +10 || +5 || +9
| class="left" | -
| 6 || 5+1 || 5+1 || 4+1 || 3+1 || 1+1 ||—||—
|-
|16th||class="left" | +12/+7/+2 || +10 || +5 || +10
| class="left" | ''[[Snake_Handler_Priest_(3.5e_Class)#Summon_Divine_Serpent_III|Summon Divine Serpent III]]''
| 6 || 5+1 || 5+1 || 5+1 || 3+1 || 2+1 || 0+1 ||—
|-
|17th||class="left" | +12/+7/+2 || +11 || +5 || +10
| class="left" | -
| 6 || 5+1 || 5+1 || 5+1 || 4+1 || 2+1 || 1+1 ||—
|-
|18th||class="left" | +13/+8/+3 || +11 || +6 || +11
| class="left" | ''[[Snake_Handler_Priest_(3.5e_Class)#Summon_Couatl|Summon Couatl]]''
| 6 || 5+1 || 5+1 || 5+1 || 4+1 || 3+1 || 1+1 || 0+1
|-
|19th||class="left" | +14/+9/+4 || +12 || +6 || +11
| class="left" | -
| 6 || 5+1 || 5+1 || 5+1 || 5+1 || 3+1 || 2+1 || 1+1 
|-
|20th||class="left" | +15/+10/+5 || +12 || +6 || +12
| class="left" | -
| 6 || 5+1 || 5+1 || 5+1 || 5+1 || 4+1 || 3+1 || 2+1 
|- class="noalt"
| colspan="42" class="skill" |
'''Class Skills ([[Skill Points::2]] + [[SRD:Intelligence|Int]] modifier per level, &times;4 at 1st level)'''<br/>
{{3.5e Skills|
Concentration, 
Craft,
Diplomacy, 
Handle Animal, 
Heal, 
Knowledge (nature),
Knowledge (religion), 
Knowledge (the planes),
Listen,
Move Silently, 
Spellcraft }}
|}

====Class Features====

All of the following are class features of the snake handler priest.

'''Weapon and Armor Proficiency:''' Snake handler priests may be proficient with all simple weapons plus the whip. They may also be proficient with all types of armor and shields (except tower shields).

'''Religion:''' The practice of snake handling is uncommon. In fact, most people have never even heard of it in many parts of the world. However, congregants of many different religions have seen the power of snake handling and will extol its virtue to anyone who challenges its legitimacy. Nonetheless, the snake-handling practice is not supported by several gods, making the worship of them off-limits to snake handler priests. The gods who will not help a snake handler are [[Corellon_Larethian|Corellon Larethian]], [[Erythnul|Erythnul]], [[Gruumsh|Gruumsh]], [[Kord|Kord]], [[Olidammara|Olidammara]], and any other chaotic god. All other deities are conducive to snake handling.

'''{{Anchor|Spells}}:''' A snake handler priest casts divine spells, which are drawn from the [[SRD:Cleric Spell List|cleric spell list]]. However, his alignment may restrict him from casting certain spells opposed to his moral or ethical beliefs; see Chaotic, Evil, Good, and Lawful Spells, below. A snake handler priest must choose and prepare his spells in advance (see below).

To prepare or cast a spell, a snake handler priest must have a [[SRD:Wisdom|Wisdom]] score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a snake handler’s spell is 10 + the spell level + the snake handler’s [[SRD:Wisdom|Wisdom]] modifier.

Like other spellcasters, a snake handler priest can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. His base daily spell allotment is given on the table above. In addition, he receives bonus spells per day if he has a high [[SRD:Wisdom|Wisdom]] score. A snake handler also gets one [[SRD:Cleric Domains|domain spell]] of each spell level he can cast, starting at 1st level. When a snake handler priest prepares a spell in a domain spell slot, it must come from one of his two domains (see [[#Deity, Domains, and Domain Spells|Deity, Domains, and Domain Spells]]).

Snake handlers meditate or pray for their spells. Each snake handler must choose a time at which he must spend 1 hour each day in quiet contemplation or supplication to regain his daily allotment of spells. Time spent resting has no effect on whether a snake handler can prepare spells. A snake handler may prepare and cast any spell on the cleric spell list, provided that he can cast spells of that level, but he must choose which spells to prepare during his daily meditation.

'''{{Anchor|Deity, Domains, and Domain Spells}}:''' A snake handler priest’s deity influences his [[SRD:Alignment|alignment]], what magic he can perform, his values, and how others see him. A snake handler chooses [[SRD:Cleric Domains|two domains]] from among those belonging to his deity. A snake handler can select an alignment domain (Chaos, Evil, Good, or Law) only if his alignment matches that domain.

If a snake handler is not devoted to a particular deity, he still selects two domains to represent his spiritual inclinations and abilities. The restriction on alignment domains still applies.

Each domain gives the snake handler access to a domain spell at each spell level he can cast, from 1st on up, as well as a granted power. The snake handler gets the granted powers of both the domains selected.

With access to two domain spells at a given spell level, a snake handler prepares one or the other each day in his domain spell slot. If a domain spell is not on the cleric spell list, a snake handler can prepare it only in his domain spell slot.

'''Spontaneous Casting:''' A good snake handler priest (or a neutral priest of a good deity) can channel stored spell energy into curing spells that the priest did not prepare ahead of time. The snake handler priest can “lose” any prepared spell that is not a domain spell in order to cast any ''[[SRD:Cure Spells|cure]]'' spell of the same spell level or lower (a ''[[SRD:Cure Spells|cure]]'' spell is any spell with “cure” in its name).

An evil snake handler priest (or a neutral priest of an evil deity), can’t convert prepared spells to ''[[SRD:Cure Spells|cure]]'' spells but can convert them to ''[[SRD:Inflict Spells|inflict]]'' spells (an ''[[SRD:Inflict Spells|inflict]]'' spell is one with “inflict” in its name).

A snake handler priest who is neither good nor evil and whose deity is neither good nor evil can convert spells to either ''[[SRD:Cure Spells|cure]]'' spells or ''[[SRD:Inflict Spells|inflict]]'' spells (player’s choice). Once the player makes this choice, it cannot be reversed.

'''Chaotic, Evil, Good, and Lawful Spells:''' A snake handler priest can’t cast spells of an alignment opposed to his own or his deity’s (if he has one). Spells associated with particular alignments are indicated by the chaos, evil, good, and law descriptors in their spell descriptions.

'''{{Anchor|Serpent Empathy}} {{Ex}}:''' At first level, a snake handler priest can use body language, vocalizations, and demeanor to improve the attitude of snakes (or anything with a serpentine likeness). This ability functions just like a Diplomacy check to improve the attitude of a person. The snake handler priest rolls 1d20 and adds his class level + Charisma bonus to determine the serpent empathy check result.<br/> - To use serpent empathy, the snake handler priest and the serpent must be no more than 30 feet of one another under normal visibility conditions.

'''{{Anchor|Serpent Companion}} ((Ex}}:''' A snake handler priest may begin play with a [[SRD:Small Viper|Small Viper]] or [[SRD:Medium Viper|Medium Viper]]. This [[SRD:Animal Type|animal]] is a loyal companion that accompanies the snake handler priest on his adventures as appropriate for its kind.<br/> - A 1st-level snake handler’s companion is completely typical for its kind except as noted below. As a snake handler advances in level, the [[SRD:Animal Type|animal]]’s power increases as shown on the table. If a snake handler priest releases his companion from service, he may gain a new one by performing a ceremony requiring 24 uninterrupted hours of prayer. This ceremony can also replace an [[SRD:Animal Type|animal]] companion that has perished.

'''{{Anchor|Summon Serpent I}} {{Sp}}:''' Starting at 2nd level, snake handler priests may summon a snake once/day as a spell-like ability. It appears where you designate and acts immediately, on your turn. It attacks your opponents to the best of its ability. If you can communicate with the snake, you can direct it not to attack, to attack particular enemies, or to perform other actions.<br/> - This spell summons either a [[SRD:Small_Viper|small viper]], or 1d3 [[SRD:Tiny_Viper|tiny vipers]].<br/> - A summoned snake cannot summon or otherwise conjure another creatures, nor can it use any teleportation or planar travel abilities. Snakes cannot be summoned into an environment that cannot support them. 

'''{{Anchor|Faith Against Poison}} {{Ex}}:''' At level 3, the snake handler priest has faith in his god strong enough to repel poison. He may add his Wisdom modifier to his [[SRD:Saving_Throw#Fortitude|Fortitude]] saving throws against poison.

====Ex-<-pluralized class name->====

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'''Combat:''' <-Typical role in combat->.

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Article Balance	High +
Author	Nolanf +
Base Attack Bonus Progression	Moderate +
Fortitude Save Progression	Good +
Identifier	3.5e Class +
Length	20 +
Minimum Level	1 +
Rating	Unrated +
Reflex Save Progression	Poor +
Skill	Concentration +, Craft +, Diplomacy +, Handle Animal +, Heal +, Knowledge +, Listen +, Move Silently + and Spellcraft +
Skill Points	2 +
Summary	This is like a cleric with relatively low spellcasting ability, but relatively high ability to summon and fight alongside snakes! +
Title	Snake Handler Priest +
Will Save Progression	Good +