Forgefire Warlock (3.5e Prestige Class)
Forgefire Warlock
| “ | It is more than fire that flows through my children’s veins. | ” |
| —Lord Alethros, forgefire warlock | ||
Crafted by the First Lord of Faltharis, the Forgefire warlocks draw their power from the intense magical flame that powers them.
Becoming a Forgefire Warlock
Since only warforged specially chosen by Alethros are permitted entry into this class, their ranks are limited to a select few. Most prospective Forgefire warlocks are warlock/fighters or warlock/warblades, drawing on the martial training that they all receive.
| Base Attack Bonus: | +6 |
|---|---|
| Race: | Warforged |
| Skills: | Craft (any) 12 ranks, Spellcraft 6 ranks. |
| Invocations: | Must know the brimstone blast invocation |
| Special: | Must have been chosen to become a Forgefire warlock by Lord Alethros. |
| Level | Base Attack Bonus |
Saving Throws | Special | Invoking | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort | Ref | Will | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1st | +1 | +2 | +0 | +2 | Forgefire Blast +2d6, Forged of the Great Fire | +1 level of existing invoking class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2nd | +2 | +3 | +0 | +3 | Forgefire Blast +4d6, Lend Forgefire | +1 level of existing invoking class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3rd | +3 | +3 | +1 | +3 | Forgefire Blast +6d6, Forgefire Crafting | +1 level of existing invoking class | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Class Skills (2 + Int modifier per level) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class Features
The following are the class features of the forgefire warlock class
Invoking: At each level, you gain new invocations known, increased damage with ‘’eldritch blast’’, and an increase in invoker level as if you had also gained a level in the warlock class. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained.
Forged of the Great Fire (Ex): At 1st level, you may ignore any arcane spell failure chance granted either from your race or by virtue of a warforged feat (such as Adamantine Body) while using invocations and eldritch blast.
Forgefire Blast (Sp): Whenever you use your eldritch blast ability, you can change your eldritch blast into a forgefire blast. A forgefire blast deals your normal eldritch blast damage plus an extra 2d6 points of damage per class level. If your blast hits multiple targets (for example, the eldritch chain or eldritch cone blast shape invocations), each target takes the extra damage. This damage is not fire damage. Forgefire burns hotter than any normal fire, and it automatically overcomes any fire resistance or immunity.
Each time you use this ability, you take 1 point of Constitution damage, even if you possess immunity to ability damage or drain. If you lack a Constitution score, you cannot use this ability.
Lend Forgefire (Sp): Starting at 2nd level, as a standard action that provokes attacks of opportunity, you can choose another creature who has taken Constitution damage from using forgefire and who is within range of your forgefire blast. By either touching them or using your forgefire blast on them, you may heal a number of their Constitution damage equal to half the amount of Constitution damage you choose to take as part of this ability. If you choose to use your forgefire blast against them, you must make a ranged touch attack, but it deals no damage to them. Each time you use this ability, you take 2 or more points of Constitution damage (your choice), even if you possess immunity to ability damage or drain. If you lack a Constitution score, you cannot use this ability.
Forgefire Crafting (Su): At 3rd level, when crafting a magic item, you may choose to take Constitution damage, for every 4 points of damage you take, your caster level for crafting that item is increased by 1. This damage cannot be healed until you have finished (or failed) crafting the item. Each time you use this ability, you take 4 or more points of Constitution damage (your choice), even if you possess immunity to ability damage or drain. If you lack a Constitution score, you cannot use this ability.
Ex-Forgefire Warlocks
If a forgefire warlock performs an action that is somehow against Lord Alethros, the Living Flame may choose to revoke the forgefire warlock's access to his class abilities until he atones.
Campaign Information
Playing a Forgefire Warlock
Unlike most warlocks, you know exactly where your power comes from, allowing you to use it to its fullest. As a vassal of Lord Alethros, you are expected to pursue his interests; such as crafting magical weapons and armor, or creating new inventions using your forgefire.
Combat: While you might be an expert crafter or scholar, first and foremost you are the creation of a warrior, more or less a weapon yourself. No matter how proud you are of your creations, you revel in the heat (no pun intended) of combat, sometimes going out of your way to find conflict, often at the behest of your superiors. Due to your limited reserve of forgefire, you are best off striking hard and fast, blasting your enemies with your forgefire blast before they have a chance to react. Since it’s difficult to recover expended forgefire, you should stock up on items that boost your health, or better yet, bring along another forgefire warlock.
Advancement: Forgefire warlocks are best off taking as many levels of warlock as possible; to both increase their ability to use eldritch blast and invocations, as well as crafting items. Item creation feats are generally preferred, especially ones like Craft Construct, since every forgefire warlock craves the ability to craft other creatures with forgefire.
Resources: Like most warforged created by Alethros, you are likely to spend much of your time in his domain, leaving only to sell wares crafted by you and your kind. If you do leave, you can expect a hearty welcome back at any time, provided you left peacefully, of course. You can expect to be treated much the same as any other warforged, and as such you are entitled to free repairs and healing, free or discounted weaponry, and access to any crafting tools and material you require, provided they are feasible, of course. All forgefire warlocks, and all warforged for that matter, were crafted to be warriors. Even in times of peace, they a required to constantly drill as part of a formation or unit, learning tactics that take advantage of their superior construction and training to gain an advantage in battle. If a warforged leaves or is sent on a mission elsewhere, most yearn for the feeling of protection that an army provides, often returning to be a part of that again. Among Alethros’ armies, the forgefire warlocks form a special section of warriors who fill many positions from scouts to ranged artillery, sometimes even as frontline combatants.
Forgefire Warlocks in the World
| “ | The fire within us gives us life, much in the way blood powers a human. But our blood is far more dangerous | ” |
| —Sep, forgefire warlock | ||
Many of the forgefire warlocks found outside of Alethros’ domain are scholars and scouts of sort, searching for and documenting new ways to use forgefire.
NPC Reactions: Unless a forgefire warlock reveals his abilities, he is likely to treated as just another of his race, although in many cases this means he will be met with the extreme prejudice his kind inspire. Even if he is proven to be a forgefire warlock, few non-warforged know what they are, and most would just write off as an ability inherent to his race.
Forgefire Warlock Lore
Characters with ranks in Knowledge (arcana) can research forgefire warlocks to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.
| DC | Result |
|---|---|
| 11 | Forgefire warlocks can summon great flames from within them to scorch their foes. |
| 16 | Forgefire warlocks put themselves at a great risk using forgefire, since using too much has the potential to leave them cold and lifeless. |
| 21 | Forgefire warlocks are essentially storage devices for forgefire, a powerful form of magic drawn directly from the world’s core. |
| 26 | Characters who get this result can know the names and locations of specific forgefire warlocks and items related to them. |
Forgefire Warlocks in the Game
Forgefire warlocks are an excellent option for players who want to command the raw fiery power of the world’s core, or who just want to be able to craft better items. Since they are often sent out on missions by Lord Alethros, forgefire warlocks have plenty of opportunities to adventure, sometimes never even returning to the domain of their lord.
Adaptation: While the forgefire warlock prestige class is unique to warforged of the Faltharis setting, it wouldn’t be difficult to change the requirements to allow other races to take it. Perhaps these others have undergone a secret ceremony to infuse their bodies with forgefire, allowing them to expel it in sudden bursts.
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