Half-Shadow (3.5e Template)
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Half-Shadow
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Half-Shadows are based loosely on the Forgotten Realms template and create an interesting dynamic for players.
Creating a Half-Shadow
There can be dozens of reasons why a Half-Shadow creature can exist. Perhaps a Shadow creature was messed up in interplanar travel. Perhaps the Planes themselves were severely decimated or ruined in war or chaos, leaving their creatures only half-aligned. Or perhaps a creature was cursed by the gods to lose half of his nature, leaving him only a Half-Shadow. You can come up with dozens of reasons to create a character with these characteristics. Having only half of his nature, the Half-Shadow's character will consistently be torn between two worlds, desiring to be whole someday. Your Half-Shadow character will be seen as inferior in the eyes of creatures who are fully Shadow, and alienated by those of the Material Plane who fear Shadows.
Size and Type
Animals or vermin with this template become magical beasts, but otherwise the creature type is unchanged. Half-Shadow creatures encountered on the Material Plane do not have the extraplanar subtype, as they are not fully native to the Plane of Shadow, only partially. Thus, a Banish spell will not banish the creature back to the Shadow Plane. Instead, on a successful casting of Banish (or a similar spell), the creature becomes dazed for a number of rounds equal to half the difference between the caster's Spell Save DC and the target's (the Half-Shadow's) Will Save against the same spell.
Hit Dice
Same as base creature.
Speed
1.5 Times the base creature.
Armor Class
Same as base creature.
Attack
Same as base creature.
Full Attack
Same as base creature.
Special Attacks
Same as base creature.
Special Qualities
Darkvision out to 30 feet.
Low-light vision.
Shadow Blend (Su): In any conditions other than full daylight, a Half-Shadow creature can disappear into the shadows, giving it total concealment. Artificial illumination, even a light or continual flame spell, does not negate this ability, but a daylight spell will.
Light Blindness (Ex): Abrupt exposure to bright light (such as sunlight or daylight spell) blinds a shadow-walker for 1 round. In addition, she takes a -1 penalty on all attack rolls, saves and checks when operating in bright light.
Abilities
A Half-Shadow may gain one additional ability for every 3 Hit Dice he possesses (minimum one additional ability). He may not choose the same one twice. He may choose his additional ability from the following list:
- Damage Reduction 5/Cold and +1 DR/Cold for every 5 additional Hit Dice maximum of 10.
- Resistance to cold equal to 5 + 1 per Hit Die, to a maximum of 15.
- Darkvision out to 60ft, +1 to Spot checks in general, and +1 to Spot checks in complete darkness.
- Fast healing 2.
- Shadowy Luck, giving +2 on all saving throws.
- Swift as Shadows, increasing your base speed by 1.5 of its base value.
- Shadow Dodge, giving +1 to your Dodge AC in any conditions other than full daylight. Requires base creature to have and use the Dodge feat. Requires the base creature to also have Improved Evasion.
- Shadow Illusion proficiency, giving +3 Spell Save DC on all spells of the Illusion School that have the Shadow descriptor. Requires base creature to have caster level 5th.
- Evasion, as the Rogue class feature.
- Mirror Image (Sp): 1/day. Requires base creature to have caster level 5th.
- Cause Fear (Sp): 1/day. Requires base creature to have caster level 5th. The save DC is Charisma-based.
- Plane shift (Sp): 1/day. Self only, Requires base creature to have caster level 5th.
Skills
Same as base creature. A Half-Shadow gains a +6 to Move Silently and Hide checks.
Feats
Same as base creature.
Environment
Plane of Shadow or the Material Plane.
Organization
Same as base creature.
Challenge Rating
Adds a +1 to any creature's Challenge Rating.
Treasure
Same as base creature.
Alignment
A Half-Shadow may be pure Neutral, Chaotic-Neutral, or Lawful-Neutral.
Advancement
Same as base creature.
Level Adjustment
A Half-Shadow template adds a +1 to Level Adjustment.
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