I tweaked my Knight of the Black Rose, including replacing the Death Spell with a Finger of Death. While there's certainly a potential for the latter spell to make a very large impact, all in all, it's a decrease in power which the class needed. Truth to tell, the idea of a separate class for the Knight, is something that makes more sense and works much better in 3e, or even AD&D. But, I've had a version of him running around my games, for several years. My wife played one, for a while. Her character met his end in Rappan Athuk, at the hands of a Rakshasa.
The Knight of the Black Rose
These Knights serve the Goddess Death and her church, under the leadership of Balston the Deicide. They are usually stationed at Her shrines and temples, but sometimes will be found serving in local armies that have earned the favor of Death's temporal emissaries. A chosen few are given relative autonomy and sent out to do the will of the Goddess on their own.
The Knight must be of Lawful Alignment (If the Nine-Fold scheme is used, then any Lawful Alignment. In the Three-Fold scheme, if there is a heavy emphasis on Good, associated with Lawfulness, then Neutral may be more appropriate.)
They consider undead creatures to be a blasphemy and must attempt to destroy any such they encounter (suicide is not expected, here. They may regroup, stage a tactical retreat and call for reinforcements, if necessary). A major preoccupation of the Knights and Clerics of The Church of the Black Rose, is the destruction of Undead. In particular, the Intelligent, Self-Willed sort.
A Knight must tithe 30% of all income to the Church. Funds spent in service to the Goddess, such as in building and maintaining a Chapter, may count towards the tithe.
There is a 3% cumulative chance, per month, that the Church will call upon the Knight to slay a specific target. When the Knight reaches 9th Level, this chance increases to 10%, cumulative.
Hit Die: 1d6 +2. After achieving 9th level, the Knight gains only 3 HP per level, thereafter.
Alignment: Any Lawful.
Race: Human, Dwarven.
Armor & Shield: Any.
Weapons Allowed: Any.
Prime Attribute: Both Strength & Wisdom 13+ - for a 5% X.P. Bonus.
Class Abilities:
Knights receive a +2 Bonus to Saves against Fear, Paralyzation and Death Effects. At 5th Level they receive a Saving Throw at -2 to avoid the Energy Draining attacks of Undead.
At 8th Level they may cast a Finger of Death 1/day.
At 9th Level, they may establish a Chapter of their Order, attracting 2d4 members, consisting of 1st Level Knights, and Clerics. In addition, there will also be a small number of lay-worshiping Men-at-Arms and 0-Level Squires.
Class Abilities:
Knights receive a +2 Bonus to Saves against Fear, Paralyzation and Death Effects. At 5th Level they receive a Saving Throw at -2 to avoid the Energy Draining attacks of Undead.
At 8th Level they may cast a Finger of Death 1/day.
At 9th Level, they may establish a Chapter of their Order, attracting 2d4 members, consisting of 1st Level Knights, and Clerics. In addition, there will also be a small number of lay-worshiping Men-at-Arms and 0-Level Squires.
Level XP HD Attack Save
1 0 1 +0 15
2 2,500 2 +0 14
3 5,000 3 +1 13
4 10,000 4 +2 12
5 20,000 5 +2 11
6 40,000 6 +3 10
7 80,000 7 +4 9
8 160,000 8 +5 8
9 300,000 9 +6 7
10 430,000 +3 hp +7 6
11 560,000 +6 hp +7 5
12 690,000 +9 hp +8 4
13+ 130,000 X.P. per level. +3 hp per level. Attack Bonus as S&W Fighting Man. Saves remain at 4.
13+ 130,000 X.P. per level. +3 hp per level. Attack Bonus as S&W Fighting Man. Saves remain at 4.
