Recycler (3.5e Class)

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A druid variant who acts as a "necromancer of the green", they return the dead to life through plants and fungus, using their reborn minions in place of transforming into other creatures. 20 0 Moderate Good Poor Good Prepared Divine Spellcasting Full


Recycler[edit]

Nature and necromancy are often at odds, as necromancy introduces unnatural life in dead flesh through extraplanar means. However, the idea of returning the dead to life or some semblance of itself is not at odds. By using more natural sources, the recycler can return the dead to the living as protectors of the forest, guardians of their charge, or terrifying hunters living a new, reborn, green existence. They are the recyclers, necromancers of the green.

Making a Recycler[edit]

Abilities: Recyclers are Wisdom based much like druids, but unlike druids they cannot use wildshape to handle physical abilities. Charisma also is important for some abilities. Thus, recyclers are much more on the magical focus rather than being in-built gishes. Constitution is important for everyone, as is Dexterity, and any other ability scores depend on the recycler's playstyle.

Races: Any.

Alignment: Any Neutral.

Starting Gold: 5d4×10 gp (125 gp).

Starting Age: As wizard.

Table: The Recycler

Hit Die: d8

Level Base
Attack Bonus
Saving Throws Special Spells per Day
Fort Ref Will 0 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
1st +0 +2 +0 +2 Corpse Puppet, Lifeburn Touch, Nature Sense, Orisons, Spontaneous Curing 3 1
2nd +1 +3 +0 +3 Low-Light Vision, Woodland Stride 4 2
3rd +2 +3 +1 +3 Trackless Step, Recycle Dead (Skeleton/Zombie) 4 2 1
4th +3 +4 +1 +4 Lifeburn Bomb, Resist Nature's Lure 5 3 2
5th +3 +4 +1 +4 Life Throes 5 3 2 1
6th +4 +5 +2 +5 Lifeburn Torch, Immunity (Sleep) 5 3 3 2
7th +5 +5 +2 +5 Positive Flesh Charge 6 4 3 2 1
8th +6 +6 +2 +6 Immunity (Poison) 6 4 3 3 2
9th +6 +6 +3 +6 Recycle Dead (Ghoul) 6 4 4 3 2 1
10th +7 +7 +3 +7 Overheal, Recycle Dead (Ghast) 6 4 4 3 3 2
11th +8 +7 +3 +7 Life Root 6 5 4 4 3 2 1
12th +9 +8 +4 +8 Immunity (Paralysis) 6 5 4 4 3 3 2
13th +9 +8 +4 +8 Recycle Dead (Mummy) 6 5 5 4 4 3 2 1
14th +10 +9 +4 +9 Immunity (Stun) 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2
15th +11 +9 +5 +9 Shambling Swamp Thing 6 5 5 5 4 4 3 2 1
16th +12 +10 +5 +10 Recycle Dead (Mohrg) 6 5 5 5 4 4 3 3 2
17th +12 +10 +5 +10 Disrupt Undead 6 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 2 1
18th +13 +11 +6 +11 Recycle Dead (Devourer) 6 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 3 2
19th +14 +11 +6 +11 Revival Throes 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 3
20th +15 +12 +6 +12 Philosophical Swamp Thing 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4

Class Skills (4 + Int modifier per level, ×4 at 1st level)
Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (dungeoneering) (nature) (religion) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Search (Int), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex), Use Rope (Dex).

Class Features[edit]

All of the following are class features of the Recycler.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Recyclers are proficient in all simple melee weapons, and all martial weapons normally made of wood (specifically the greatclub). Recyclers are proficient with light and medium armor but are prohibited from wearing metal armor, as a druid. Recyclers are proficient with shields (except tower shields) but must use only wooden ones. A recycler who wields prohibited armor or wields a prohibited shield is unable to cast druid spells or use any of her supernatural or spell-like class abilities while doing so and for 24 hours thereafter.

Spells: A recycler casts divine spells, which are drawn from the druid spell list. Her alignment may restrict her from casting certain spells opposed to her moral or ethical beliefs; see Chaotic, Evil, Good, and Lawful Spells, below. A recycler must choose and prepare her spells in advance (see below). To prepare or cast a spell, the recycler must have a Wisdom score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a recycler's spell is 10 + the spell level + the recycler's Wisdom modifier.

Like other spellcasters, a recycler can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. Her base daily spell allotment is given on Table: The Recycler. In addition, she receives bonus spells per day if she has a high Wisdom score. She does not have access to any domain spells or granted powers, as a cleric does. A recycler prepares and casts spells the way a cleric does. A recycler may prepare and cast any spell on the druid spell list, provided that she can cast spells of that level, but she must choose which spells to prepare during her daily meditation.

Recyclers add the following spells to their class spell list at the appropriate levels:

0—disrupt undead

1st—agony pin, corpse patrol, corpse puppet, death's door, deathwatch, ghoul lightSpC, healing gust, inflict light wounds, lesser animate dead, summon undead ISpC

2nd—bonefiddleSpC, bone spurs, cull undead, death armorSpC, death knell, false life, inflict moderate wounds, life boltSpC, living undeathSpC, protection from negative energySpC, protection from positive energySpC, shared sacrifice, spawn screenSpC, stabilizeSpC, stone bonesSpC, summon undead IISpC

3rd—animate dead, bolt of bones, contagious fogSpCcorpse bomb, dark seeker, disruption sphere, greater disrupt undeadSpC, inflict serious wounds, jack-o'-lantern bomb, rejuvenative corpseSpC, skull watchSpC, spark of lifeSpC, summon undead IIISpC, undead lieutenantSpC, undead torchSpC

4th—corpse reanimation, inflict critical wounds, iron bonesSpC, positive energy auraSpC, revenanceSpC, second coming, skeleton self, summon undead IVSpC, undead bane weaponSpC

5th—absorb undead, blood to adrenaline, death throes, delay deathSpC, ghoul gauntletSpC, life's graceSpC, mass inflict light woundsSpC, plague of ratsSpC, raise dead, revive undeadSpC, revivifySpC, skeletal overgrowth, summon undead VSpC

6th—awaken undeadSpC, deathball, gravehorde, heal, mass inflict moderate woundsSpC, revive outsiderSpC, switch health

7th—bonetitan frame, detonation of blood, mass inflict serious woundsSpC, power word regenerate, resurrection, scourgeSpC

8th—avasculateSpC, death pactSpC, fortunate fateSpC, general of undeathSpC, mass inflict critical woundsSpC, skeletal guardSpC, veil of undeathSpC, vile deathSpC

9th—avascular massSpC, evil within, mass heal, otyugh swarmSpC, plague of undeadSpC, true resurrection, undeath's eternal foeSpC

Recyclers employ a unique form of necromancy that animates corpses by invigorating their bodies with excessive amounts of life. The creatures are reborn, animated by fungus and plants and unified bacterial mats. Thus, all the necromantic spells gained from this class deal positive energy damage instead of negative energy damage. Positive energy damage works on undead, and does not heal the living. Against the living, it deals one die smaller in damage, thus inflict moderate wounds deals 2d6 + caster level (max 10) in positive energy damage, or 2d8 + caster level (max 10) against undead.

Undead created by the recycler are also positive energy aligned, healed by cure spells and harmed by negative energy. They count as both Plant and Undead types, they possess Plant traits, default to Constitution 10, and count as undead for interacting with spells and other effects. The recycler's undead can be turned and rebuked, but are unaffected by desecrate. Instead they count swamps, overgrown places, and positive energy aligned planar traits as desecrate for the purpose of interacting with your undead creations.

Bonus Languages: A recycler learns druidic as a druid.

Corpse Puppet (Sp): The recycler can reanimate bodies using the power of positive energy, crudely reanimating dead flesh and bones through the growth of other organisms within its frame. This duplicates the spell corpse puppet, except it is altered as described in Spellcasting. The recycler may use this ability 3 + Charisma modifier times per day.

Lifeburn Touch (Sp): With a touch, the recycler can release a pulse of harmful positive energy that burns the body in an explosive burst of growth and resource consumption. As a standard action touch attack, the recycler deals 1d4 points of positive energy damage + 1 damage per class level. This rises to 1d6 + 2 per level against undead. Casting this spell-like ability does not provoke attacks of opportunity. This counts as a spell level equal to 1 + 1/2 your class level.

Nature Sense (Ex): A recycler gains a +2 bonus on Knowledge (nature) and Survival checks.

Orisons: Recyclers can prepare a number of orisons, or 0-level spells, each day, as noted on Table: Recycler under “Spells per Day.” These spells are cast like any other spell, but they are not expended when cast and may be used again.

Spontaneous Casting: A recycler can channel stored spell energy into cure spells that she hasn’t prepared ahead of time, as a cleric. They cast cure spells at the level they appear on the cleric spell list.

Low-Light Vision (Ex): A recycler begins to pick up some plant traits as a result of their natural biosphere blooming to new heights. They gain low-light vision, or if they already have it obtain superior low-light vision, able to see four times as far instead.

Woodland Stride (Ex): Starting at 2nd level, a recycler may move through any sort of undergrowth (such as natural thorns, briars, overgrown areas, and similar terrain) at her normal speed and without taking damage or suffering any other impairment. However, thorns, briars, and overgrown areas that have been magically manipulated to impede motion still affect her.

Trackless Step (Ex): Starting at 3rd level, a recycler leaves no trail in natural surroundings and cannot be tracked. She may choose to leave a trail if so desired.

Recycle Dead (Sp): At 3rd level, the recycler learns how to fully repurpose the fallen bodies of formerly living creatures into reborn minions under her permanent service. This acts as animate dead in all ways, consuming an about of gold in limestone instead of onyx. These "undead" are powered by positive energy as described in Spellcasting, and can make vine-covered skeletons, and fungal powered zombies. Uses of Recycle Dead consume from the same pool as using Corpse Puppet.

At 9th level, the corporeal options from Create Undead began to become unlocked. The recycler can create ghouls. Rather than being cast at night, this form of Create Undead only works in natural environments or environments with the positive energy planar trait. This opens up Ghasts at 10th level, Mummies at 13th level, Mohrgs at 16th level, and Devourers at 18th level.

Lifeburn Bomb (Sp): The 4th level recycler can project their lifeburn touch out as an explosive projectile within 60 ft. It detonates in a 10 ft radius burst, dealing Lifeburn Touch damage to all creatures in the area with a Reflex save of DC 10 + 1/2 HD + Wisdom modifier for half damage. This can only be used once every 1d4 rounds.

Resist Nature's Lure (Ex): Starting at 4th level, a recycler gains a +4 bonus on saving throws against the spell-like abilities of fey.

Life Throes (Su): The 5th level recycler is infused with positive energy. If they drop, their energy escapes explosively. Upon dropping under 0 hp, you can choose to detonate in up to a 20 ft (or less) radius, healing creatures with beneficial positive energy equal to 1d6 points per HD you possess. Unwilling creatures (such as undead harmed by positive energy) get a Will save for half, DC 10 + 1/2 HD + Wisdom modifier. This energy does not heal you, as it emanates from you. You cannot use this ability again until you are brought to full hp again.

Lifeburn Torch (Su): At 6th level the recycler's lifeburn touch (and lifeburn bomb) persist beyond initial contact. Affected creatures take an additional 1d4 (or 1d6) points of damage at the end of their turn every round for 5 rounds, and their bodies are illuminated as if under faerie fire. The duration ends if they receive any form of healing. Additional strikes merely reset the duration, they do not stack damage.

If a creature dies while under the effect of your lifeburn torch, you can choose to subject them to rapid decomposition and turn them into compost as a non-action upon their demise.

Immunities (Ex): A recycler gains more and more plant traits as their body is infused with more and more living creatures living in symbiosis with them. They gain immunity to sleep effects at 6th level. At 8th level, they gain immunity to poison. At 12th level they gain immunity to paralysis. Finally at 14th level they obtain immunity to stunning.

Positive Flesh Charge (Sp): The recycler's body is soaking in positive energy, making them ill suited for turning into undead. At 7th level they cannot be unwillingly transformed into an undead, and their body does not rot as if under gentle repose. In addition, they automatically stabilize when dying, and any bleeding effects on them cannot take them below 1 hp.

Overheal (Su): At 10th level, the recycler's healing energies fortify the body as it strengthens it with its inner biosphere. If a recycler heals a creature past its maximum hp, the extra hp persists as temporary hp for 3 rounds before vanishing at the end of their third turn. In addition, the recycler themselves become immune to the dangerous effects of the positive energy plane, and may breathe and move on there normally.

Life Root (Su): A 11th level recycler in a natural environment can root themselves in place as a 1 round action which provokes an attack of opportunity. In this state they cannot move, but they gain fast healing 1 and a +20 stability bonus for being moved from their position. They can unroot themselves as a 1 round action, or are unrooted if someone successfully forcefully moves them.

Shambling Swamp Thing (Su): The 15th level recycler is a walking biosphere waiting to take over in the case of accidental death. When the recycler dies, as long as their body is within natural terrain they will begin to be consumed by the environment's natural flora, until they are reborn after 1 minute as a skeleton or zombie (as if they used Recycle Dead on themselves, and ignoring HD restrictions). Unlike their normal undead created, they retain their intelligence, hp, and class abilities. However, this form is temporary and they must find a way to restore themselves to life within 24 hours before their body breaks down and they die again. They also die if slain in this state. Their animate body (even as a skeleton) counts as a fully intact corpse for the purpose of revival spells, and is a valid target for such spells. In spite of the name, a swamp is not required.

Disrupt Undead (Su): The 17th level recycler treats all weapons and weapon-like spells as having the Disruption weapon enhancement for free, even if it is not a bludgeoning weapon. If they actually have the enhancement, the DC becomes 10 + 1/2 HD + Charisma modifier.

Revival Throes (Su): If a 19th level recycler dies, it will not be in vain. In addition to the burst from Life Throes, if they die they can choose to restore any valid creatures in range to life as if using raise dead for free. They revive a number of HD of creatures equal to twice their own HD. Alternatively they can revive a number up to only their HD, but at full health. The recycler, of course, dies and their shambling swamp thing and philosophical swamp thing abilities do not apply, as the energy expended in those features is consumed by this process.

Philosophical Swamp Thing (Su): The 20th level recycler who dies can return at any time, as long as their body is intact and within natural terrain the recycler will return as per raise dead within 24 hours at full health. They can choose to do this instead of returning as a shambling swamp thing. The reborn body is completely identical to their old body, even though every part of their form is replaced by biotic life from the environment, yet no one can tell the difference. They may also count themselves as a Plant as well as a member of their original type.

Ex-Recycler[edit]

A recycler who ceases to revere nature, changes to a prohibited alignment, or teaches the Druidic language to a nondruid or recycler loses all spells and recycler abilities (not including weapon, armor, and shield proficiencies). She cannot thereafter gain levels as a recycler until she atones (see the atonement spell description).

Human Recycler Starting Package[edit]

Weapons: Greatclub.

Skill Selection: Pick a number of skills equal to 5 + Int modifier.

Skill Ranks Ability Armor
Check
Penalty
Concentration 4 Con
Knowledge Nature 4 Int
Listen 4 Wis
Spellcraft 4 Int
Spot 4 Wis

Feat: Improved Initiative.

Bonus Feats: Power Attack.

Gear: Leather Armor.

Gold: 110 gp.

Campaign Information[edit]

Playing a Recycler[edit]

Religion: Recyclers worship nature gods and spirits, through often those of less ethical character.

Other Classes: Recyclers are a different flavor of druid, and while they seem to worship the same nature gods and spirits, druids largely shun them viewing them as necromancers in the guise of nature. However, recyclers are no friend to normal necromancy either and so they find few friends in either camp.

Combat: You are a necromancer. Well, a plant-necromancer at that. In either case, minion-mancy is your goal and you make other formerly dead things do your jobs for you.

Advancement: Any class suitable for a necromancer can be retrofitted for their unique positive energy theme.

Recyclers in the World[edit]

Be reborn as the trees, the insects, and the swell of life deep below.
—Cyke, Half-Orc Gravetender, Unknown Source

Daily Life: As a druid, you are a bit of a loner and an outcast of civilization. And just as well, for your art is similar enough to normal necromancy for the common man not to know or care about the minor details.

Organizations: Recyclers are rare and are considered a heretical druidic cult. In theory, organizations exist but much more often they are a two person affair of master and apprentice.

NPC Reactions: You expect a commoner to understand that your skeletal minion is powered by life? They understand nothing.

Recycler Lore[edit]

Characters with ranks in Knowledge Nature can research Recyclers to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

Knowledge Nature
DC Result
10 Recyclers are druidic necromancers, creating positive energy powered half undead half plant creatures as their minions.
15 Recyclers have a positive energy touch, but it only harms and not heals. They can also sometimes throw it as a bomb, or set people on fire with its energy.
20 Recyclers are infused with positive energy, granting them certain resistances and making them impossible to turn into undead. Sometimes they even get back up from death after being slain.
30 Powerful recyclers who have been slain are said to secretly be half-plant half-man. They are powerful opponents of anything run by negative energy.

Recyclers in the Game[edit]

Adaptation: You may choose to have a druid "fall" and become a recycler, trading out druid levels for recycler levels on a 1 for 1 basis. Or vice versa.


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Eiji-kun's Homebrew (5605 Articles)
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Facts about "Recycler (3.5e Class)"
Article BalanceVery High +
AuthorEiji-kun +
Base Attack Bonus ProgressionModerate +
Class AbilityPrepared Divine Spellcasting +
Class Ability ProgressionFull +
Fortitude Save ProgressionGood +
Identifier3.5e Class +
Length20 +
Minimum Level0 +
RatingUndiscussed +
Reflex Save ProgressionPoor +
SkillBluff +, Climb +, Concentration +, Craft +, Diplomacy +, Handle Animal +, Heal +, Hide +, Intimidate +, Jump +, Knowledge +, Listen +, Move Silently +, Profession +, Ride +, Search +, Spellcraft +, Spot +, Survival +, Swim +, Tumble + and Use Rope +
Skill Points4 +
SummaryA druid variant who acts as a "necromancer of the green", they return the dead to life through plants and fungus, using their reborn minions in place of transforming into other creatures. +
TitleRecycler +
Will Save ProgressionGood +