The Ophidian (3.5e Prestige Class)

The Ophidian

“

A snake deserves no pity. And as you shall give none to it, it will shown none unto you.

”

Many beings treat snakes with fear and suspicion. Others, worship the Winged snake Sseth. The Ophidian's, however, understand the truths that the scaled kind conceal. These are The Ophidian, those that become one with serpents of all kind. Only then can they see the truths of snakes. They spend a great deal of time emulating the nature of a snake not just in personality but in physical form as well. Each time you meet an Ophidian you are likely to find a new personality each time as varied as the snakes they respect. You may find some sweet and lovely young lady or a truly venomous old man. The only thing that binds such a lot is their desire to serve the great snake and the blood that turns in their veins.

This is a variant of the Arachnomancer Prestige Classes presented in Underdark and Drow of the Underdark.

Becoming an Ophidian

Base Attack Bonus: +2

Base Save Bonuses: Fortitude +1

Spells: Ability to cast Summon Monster II as a arcane spell.

Caster Level: 4th

Special: The character must have a strong link or bond with snakes, and must be grafted or gifted with a portion of a snake. (Birth stigma from Yuan-ti does not count, you must either gain a graft or RP a gift from Sseth ingame)

Table: The Ophidian

Hit Die: d4

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	Spells per Day
1st	+0	+0	+2	+0	Snake Empathy, Ophidiamancy	+1 level of existing spellcasting class
2nd	+1	+0	+3	+0	Scaled form (S,M,L)	+1 level of existing spellcasting class
3rd	+1	+1	+3	+1	—	+1 level of existing spellcasting class
4th	+2	+1	+4	+1	Command Snakes	+1 level of existing spellcasting class
5th	+2	+1	+4	+1	Viper kissed	+1 level of existing spellcasting class
6th	+3	+2	+5	+2	Scaled form (T,H)	+1 level of existing spellcasting class
7th	+3	+2	+5	+2	Viper friend Magic	+1 level of existing spellcasting class
8th	+4	+2	+6	+2	—	+1 level of existing spellcasting class
9th	+4	+3	+6	+3	Scaled friend	+1 level of existing spellcasting class
10th	+5	+3	+7	+3	Scaled form (G)	+1 level of existing spellcasting class
Class Skills (2 + Int modifier per level) The Ophidian's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are: Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int),Handle Animal (Cha), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Profession (Wis), Spellcraft (Int).

Class Features

All of the following are Class Features of The Ophidian prestige class:

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The Ophidian gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor.

Spells per Day/Spells Known: When a new Ophidian level is gained, the character gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if she had also gained a level in a spellcasting class she belonged to before she added the prestige class. She does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. This essentially means that she adds the level of Ophidian to the level of some other spellcasting class the character has, then determines spells per day, spells known, and caster level accordingly.

Snake Empathy (Su): At 1st level the Ophidian can speak mentally to any Snakekind Any creature that resembles a snake. creature within 30ft. The Snakekind is considered any creature that resembles a snake. The creature will understand whatever the Ophidian says to it. As well, the Ophidian knows the location of any Snakekind Any creature that resembles a snake. within 30ft, even if she can't see them. She can use the Handle Animal skill with snakes (and monstrous snakes). She is treated as having the Vermin Trainer feat for prerequisites (she effectively benefits from the feat because of her Snake Empathy ability).

The Ophidian can have an additional Tiny Monstrous Snake as a familiar (The special ability granted by such a familiar is a +3 bonus to hide checks for a Tiny Monstrous Snake or a +3 bonus to climb checks for a snake. The Ophidian's level in the Ophidian class stack with her levels in a class that grants a familiar if the Ophidian has a Tiny Monstrous Snake as a familiar. In addition, the Ophidian can communicate mentally with her Tiny Monstrous snake and see out of it's eyes at all times, no matter how far apart they are.

Ophidiamancy (Sp): At 1st level, the Ophidian automatically spells from the scaly kind domain. The spells are added in addition to their normal spells per day but only gain 1 each level of that type. IE, should they gain 1 first level spell from the scaly kind domain they add this ontop of their normal spells per day, however, this amount can not be added to in any way and does not overlap with existing domain spells.

Scaled form (Su): At 2nd level, an Ophidian gains the ability to turn herself into a Small Medium or large Monstrous Snake 3 times per day. This ability functions like the alternate form special ability, except as noted here. The effect lasts for 1 hour per Ophidian level, or until she changes back. Changing form to a snake or back is a standard action and doesn’t provoke an attack of opportunity. Each time you use Scaled form, you regain lost hit points as if you had rested for a night.

Any gear worn or carried by the Ophidian melds into the new form and becomes nonfunctional. When the Ophidian reverts to her true form, any objects previously melded into the new form reappear in the same location on her body that they previously occupied and are once again functional. Any new items worn in the assumed form fall off and land at the Ophidian's feet, or lack there of.

A Ophidian loses her ability to speak while in scale form because she is limited to the sounds that a normal, untrained Monstrous Snake can make, but she can communicate normally with other snakes.

The Ophidian gains the ability to use this ability to transform into a Tiny Monstrous Snake or a Huge Monstrous Snake at 6th level, and a Gargantuan Monstrous Snake at 10th level. This ability functions as a [SRD:Druid|druid's]] wild shape class feature, so the Ophidian is eligible for any feats that require wild shape as a prerequisite.

Command Snakes (Su): At 4th level, the Ophidian can command or rebuke Snakekind[1] creatures as an evil cleric three levels lower than the Ophidian's class level rebukes or commands undead.

Viper kissed: At 5th level, the Ophidian gains a unique ability. The use of viper kissed must be proclaimed at the start of each day and can not be changed there after until the next day. The first choice is to gain use of poison "As per the spell" with a delivery method that is chosen at the time this ability is chosen. The second is the use of neutralize poison "as per the spell". Either way the ability may only be used 1/Ophidian class level. CHA is considered the modifier for all DC or variable modifiers.

Viper friend Magic: At 7th level, the Ophidian's spells will do no harm to snake kind, however, the Ophidian may spend 1 swift action to suppress this effect. The benefits of this feat apply only when she wears light or no armor. She loses all benefits of this feat when wearing medium or heavy armor.

Scaled friend: At 9th level, If a scaled creature of any kind attempts to attack the Ophidian she may attempt a charisma check (DC 15 + 1/4 the creatures HD). If the check is a success then the target creature may not attack her for 24 hrs. However, should she attack a scaled creature of any kind, including a dragon hidden in a human form, she will lose this ability for 24 hrs. Sseth does not take this ability lightly and there is a high price to pay for gaining it.

Ex-Ophidian

Playing an Ophidian

Combat:

Advancement:

Resources:

Ophidian in the World

“

”

It is extremely common to find a high ranking member of the Ophidian's who has the ability to cast both the arcane and divine magics. Skill is respected and its a hard road to travel but the benefit is titanic.

NPC Reactions:

Ophidian Lore

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

DC	Result
5	Ophidian's are a shapeshifter mage of some type.
10	They respect snakes and often tend to great nests
15	Ophidian's are known to use poison, summons, and even politics to get the job done
20	Ophidian's as a whole pay honor to Sseth and merge their arcane with his gifts
25	They respect all scaled kind, snakes are held highest but they are as like to honor a dragon in respect
30	Though it is rare, some of the most powerful of their order can turn into titanic snakes, and are often the source of many legends of such creatures.

Ophidian in the Game

Adaptation:

Sample Encounter:

EL whatever:

1. Any creature that resembles a snake.

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