Damage Sponge (3.5e Class)

Damage Sponge

A class completely centered on absorbing damage for his allies in combat.

Making a Damage Sponge

<-Strong points and weak points, and effectiveness with party members.->.

Abilities: Constitution is the most important ability score for a damage sponge as a high Constitution score means more hit points.

Races: Humans and Half-Orcs are likely to take levels of Damage Sponge.

Alignment: Any.

Starting Age: As fighter.

Table: The Damage Sponge

Hit Die: d12

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+1	+2	+0	+0	Toughness,
2nd	+2	+3	+0	+0
3rd	+3	+3	+1	+1	Toughness,
4th	+4	+4	+1	+1	Hearty Body
5th	+5	+4	+1	+1	Share the Pain, Thick Scarring
6th	+6/+1	+5	+2	+2	Toughness,
7th	+7/+2	+5	+2	+2
8th	+8/+3	+6	+2	+2	Hearty Body
9th	+9/+4	+6	+3	+3	Toughness, Extend Share the Pain,
10th	+10/+5	+7	+3	+3	Thick Scarring
11th	+11/+6/+1	+7	+3	+3
12th	+12/+7/+2	+8	+4	+4	Hearty Body, Toughness, Improved Share the Pain
13th	+13/+8/+3	+8	+4	+4	Elemental Share the Pain
14th	+14/+9/+4	+9	+4	+4
15th	+15/+10/+5	+9	+5	+5	Toughness, Thick Scarring
16th	+16/+11/+6/+1	+10	+5	+5	Hearty Body, Extend Share the Pain,
17th	+17/+12/+7/+2	+10	+5	+5	Greater Share the Pain
18th	+18/+13/+8/+3	+11	+6	+6	Toughness,
19th	+19/+14/+9/+4	+11	+6	+6
20th	+20/+15/+10/+5	+12	+6	+6	Hearty Body, Extend Share the Pain, Thick Scarring,Pain Fueled Strike
Class Skills (<-number of skill points-> + Int modifier per level, ×4 at 1st level) <-class skills (and key abilities)->.

Class Features

<-fluff about class features->. All of the following are class features of the Damage Sponge.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: <-description of class weapon & armor proficiencies->.

Toughness (Ex): At first level and every 3rd level you gain Toughness as a bonus feat.

Hearty Body (Ex)): A Damage Sponge begins to grow heartier, starting at 4th level and every 4 levels thereafter a Damage Sponge gains +2 to Constitution.

Share the Pain (Ex): Starting at 5th level, as an immediate action you can opt to take damage equal to half that an ally would take from a single attack. This does not lessen the damage your ally takes.

Thick Scarring (Ex): Taking so much damage throughout his life has left some pretty gnarly scars on the body of the Damage Sponge. At 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter, the Damage Sponge gains DR2/- up to a maximum of DR8/-.

Extend Share the Pain (Ex): The range for your Share the Pain ability is extended. Instead of just affecting allies adjacent to you, at 9th level you may affect any allies within 30ft. The range increases to 45 ft at 16th level, and to 60 ft at 20th level.

Improved Share the Pain (Ex): At 12th level, your ability to absorb damage increases. Once per round you can opt to take all the damage from a single attack directed against an adjacent ally. In addition, you continue to take half the damage from other attacks on an adjacent ally, if you so choose. You must decide whether to use this ability after the attacker determines that an attack has succeeded but before he rolls damage. This does not lessen the damage your ally takes.

Purify the Pain (Ex): At 13th Level, once per round you may convert any damage you would take from a single attack into non-elemental damage. Any effects the source would have due to the element of the damage are nullified for the chosen attacks.

Greater Share the Pain (Ex): At 17th level, you are even better at absorbing damage for your allies. You may now absorb all damage allies within range would take a number of times per day equal to your Constitution Modifier divided by 2 rounded down. You must decide whether to use this ability after the attacker determines that an attack has succeeded but before he rolls damage. In addition, for every 20 points of damage you take, you gain a +2 to hit, and a +5 on damage rolls until you either expend your final use of Greater Share the Pain or until you return to full health. Whichever comes first. This does not lessen the damage your allies takes.

Pain Fueled Strike (Ex): At 20th level, you may designate a single ally. The Damage Sponge can take all the damage that ally would take regardless of how far apart. Both the target and the Damage Sponge must be on the same plane. This does not lessen the damage your ally takes. In addition, the Damage Sponge may store up the damage they take using their Share the Pain abilites. Once per day the Damage sponge may add this damage to one attack.

Epic <-class name->

Table: The Epic <-class name->

Hit Die: d<-Die size for Hit Die->

Level	Special
21st	<-any improvements to class features gained at this level, including any bonus feats->
22nd	<-any improvements to class features gained at this level, including any bonus feats->
23rd	<-any improvements to class features gained at this level, including any bonus feats->
24th	<-any improvements to class features gained at this level, including any bonus feats->
25th	<-any improvements to class features gained at this level, including any bonus feats->
26th	<-any improvements to class features gained at this level, including any bonus feats->
27th	<-any improvements to class features gained at this level, including any bonus feats->
28th	<-any improvements to class features gained at this level, including any bonus feats->
29th	<-any improvements to class features gained at this level, including any bonus feats->
30th	<-any improvements to class features gained at this level, including any bonus feats->
<-number of skill points-> + Int modifier skill points per level.

<-existing class feature->: <-how this class feature increases or accumulates at epic levels->

<-another existing class feature->: <-how this class feature increases or accumulates at epic levels->

<-Lather, rinse...->

<-... repeat.->

Bonus Feats: The epic <-class name-> gains a bonus feat (selected from the list of epic <-class name-> bonus feats) every <-number of feats per level-> levels after 20th.

Epic <-class name-> Bonus Feat List: <-list of bonus epic feats->.

<-Sample race of your choice-> <-class name-> Starting Package

Weapons: <-Weapon selection for starting at 1st level with this class.->.

Skill Selection: Pick a number of skills equal to 4 + Int modifier.

Skill	Ranks	Ability	Armor Check Penalty
<-Skill name->	<-4 for class skills and 2 for cross-class skills->	<-Abbreviated key ability->	<-armor check penalty based on starting armor. If inapplicable put "—"->
<-Skill name->	<-4 for class skills and 2 for cross-class skills->	<-Abbreviated key ability->	<-armor check penalty based on starting armor. If inapplicable put "—"-> <-copy and paste the rows as necessary.->

Feat: <-1st-level feat selection->.

Bonus Feats: <-1st-level feat bonus feats due to class or sample race. remove this section if this sample doesn't get any bonus feats at 1st level. ->.

Gear: <-Starting armor and other equipment outside of weapons.->.

Gold: <-Starting gold using this package.->.

Playing a <-class name->

Religion: <-description of how this class typically (but no exclusively) approaches religion including likely portfolios it would worship->.

Other Classes: <-How this class typically interacts with other classes and how characters of this class interact with characters of other classes->.

Combat: <-Typical role in combat->.

Advancement: <-Typical advancement options for characters with this class. Include desirable multiclass options->.

<-pluralized class name-> in the World

“	<-Some quote from a character of this class->	”
—<-NPC name->, <-race-> <-class->

<-Where characters of this class fit in a d20 world.->

Daily Life: <-day in the life of a character of this class->.

Notables: <-notable NPCs of this class->.

Organizations: <-info on what, where, when, and how characters of this class congregate and assemble->.

NPC Reactions: <-How NPCs react to PCs of this class->.

<-class name-> Lore

Characters with ranks in <-the appropriate skills-> can research <-pluralized class name-> to learn more about them. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following, including information from lower DCs.

<-the appropriate skills->

DC	Result
5	<-common knowledge->.
10	<-not so common knowledge->.
15	<-rare information->.
20	<-very rare information->.

<-pluralized class name-> in the Game

<-How characters of this class fit in the game (PC and NPC) and what roles they play.->

Adaptation: <-Possible variant conceptions of this class.->.

Sample Encounter: <-DM placement for NPCs of this class.->.

EL : <-Encounter scenario and character info on sample NPC including stat block. The CR of the NPC is typically the same as the EL for the encounter.->.

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