Hierarch Cleric (Apath)
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A hierarch cleric is a born noble from a family of wealth and rank, destined for hierarch position in the church. Selected for their education and pedigree rather than raw faith, they are politically powerful, learned in dogma, and taught all the secret miracles, but lack the true radiance of a cleric who advanced by merit alone.
Class Information
This is a prestige archetype.
Prestige Class: Noble Scion from Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Paths of Prestige.
Build Class: Cleric.
The hierarch cleric is a noble making a career in the church.
Role: A hierarch cleric has the resources to organize adventuring teams, the connections to keep them well employed, and the miracles to keep them alive.
Alignment: Any. Like a cleric, the hierarch cleric must be of an alignment no more than one step removed from that of their patron. Most hierarch clerics are members of a well-organized and wealthy church, and as such generally lawful. Some are members of secret societies and might keep their religious ties secret and seem to be normal nobles that just happen to run a cult on the side.
Hit Die: d8.
Class Skills
The Hierarch Cleric's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Appraise (Int), Bluff (Cha), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disguise (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (all) (Int), Linguistics (Int), Perception (Wis), Perform (Cha), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), and Spellcraft (Int).
Skill Ranks at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Class Features
The hierarch cleric has all the class features of the cleric, except as follows:
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
Hierarch clerics are proficient with all simple weapons, as well as the long sword and rapier. They are proficient in light armor, medium armor, and shields (except tower shields). Hierarch clerics are also proficient with the favored weapon of their deities.
Affluent (Ex)
At each level, a hierarch cleric gains a stipend worth a number of gold pieces equal to 750 multiplied by her class level. (She gains 750 gp at 1st level, an additional 1,500 gp at 2nd level, and so on.) This replaces spontaneous casting.
Domain
A hierarch cleric has only one domain, often one relating to law, wealth, or position. This makes up for extra skill points and class skills.
Prestigious Influence (Ex)
At 2nd level, a hierarch cleric can use her influence to receive special treatment, favors, and other services. She effectively has a pool of virtual gold pieces equal to 150 gp plus 10 gp per class level to spend on services and non-material goods. This pool replenishes at the beginning of every week.
Services and nonmaterial goods available to a hierarch cleric include:
- Pay for lodgings, stabling, taxes, and tolls.
- Improve her lifestyle quality.
- Hire entertainers, messengers, mounts, servants, transport, workers, and so on.
- Obtain invitations to exclusive events, or entry into privileged locations.
- Spread rumors or start a whispering campaign.
- Purchase spellcasting services.
- Employ an expert hireling to make a skill check with a check bonus of +10 plus her class level (50 gp).
A hierarch cleric cannot permanently gain goods or wealth from this ability; boons attainable from this ability are generally only available in settlements of 5,000 people or more. The exact benefits available in a location are subject to GM discretion. This replaces channel energy form level 1.
Aristocratic Erudition (Ex)
At 3rd level, a hierarch cleric gains a bonus equal to 1/3 her class level on Diplomacy, Knowledge (local), and Knowledge (nobility) checks. This ability also reduces the DCs of Diplomacy and Knowledge (local) checks others make to gather publicly known information about the hierarch cleric by the same amount. This replaces channel energy form level 3.
Servitor (Ex)
At 4th level, a hierarch cleric gains a faithful NPC servitor of the same level as a cohort granted by the Leadership feat. This servitor can only have levels in NPC classes and comes equipped with gear appropriate for a character 1 level lower than the servitor's actual level. The servitor does not follow the hierarch cleric as would a cohort or follower, but instead can run various errands for her master while the hierarch cleric is adventuring, such as delivering messages or maintaining the scion's manor in her stead. This replaces channel energy form level 11.
Regional Expertise (Ex)
At 8th level, and again at 12th and 16th level, a hierarch cleric gains a bonus feat from one of the lists below, depending on where she is from. These feats must be taken from the same list at each level (except for feats under the “general” category, which can be taken by nobles from any region). A hierarch cleric need not meet the prerequisites for these feats. At their discretion, GMs may add other feats to these regions or create lists for other regions. This replaces channel energy form level 5, 9, and 15.
The Dwarf Fastness: Deepsight, Fortified Armor Training, Hammer The Gap, Skill Focus (Knowledge [engineering]) Weapon Focus (any axe or hammer).
Land of the Fallen Dragon Kings: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (dueling sword), Flanking Foil, Step Up, Weapon Focus (dueling sword).
The Empire of Devils: Careful Speaker, Enforcer, Intimidating Prowess, Skill Focus (Knowledge [planes]).
The Land of the Ten-Thousand Gods: Improved Unarmed Strike, Skill Focus (Perform [dance]), Voice of the Sibyl, Weapon Focus (unarmed strike).
The Elven Forest Kingdom: Agile Maneuvers, Breadth of Experience, Skill Focus (Knowledge [nature]), Weapon Focus (longbow).
The Shadow Kingdom: Blind-Fight, Diehard, Shadow Strike, Stealthy.
The Kingdom of Pharaohs: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (khopesh), Self-Sufficient, Skill Focus (Knowledge [history]), Weapon Focus (khopesh).
The Satrapy of the Desert: Animal Affinity, Quick Draw, Skill Focus (Appraise), Weapon Focus (scimitar).
The River Nations: Improved Dirty Trick, Improved Steal, Ironguts, Skill Focus (Knowledge [local]).
The Fallen Empire: Dazzling Display, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (falcata), Skill Focus (Bluff ), Weapon Focus (falcata).
The Gothic Kingdoms: Combat Reflexes, Focused Discipline, Skill Focus (Knowledge [nobility]), Stoic.
General: Acrobatic, Additional Traits, Alertness, Antagonize, Athletic, Cosmopolitan, Deceitful, Deft Hands, Fleet, Improved Initiative, Persuasive, Prodigy, Rhetorical Flourish, Run, Scholar.
Leadership (Ex)
At 7th level, the hierarch cleric gains Leadership as a bonus feat. This replaces channel energy form level 7.
Greater Leadership (Ex)
At 13th level, a hierarch cleric can recruit a cohort up to one level lower than herself and doubles the number of followers. At 19th level, she can recruit a cohort of her own level and quadruples the number of followers. This replaces channel energy form level 13 and 19.
Peerless Patrician (Ex)
At 20th level, once per round a hierarch cleric can roll twice on any Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Knowledge (nobility), or Sense Motive check and take the better roll. Once per day, instead of rolling one of these skill checks, she can assume the roll resulted in a natural 20. This replaces channel energy form level 17.
Table: Hierarch Cleric
| Level | Base Attack Bonus | Fort Save | Ref Save | Will Save | Special | Spells per Day | |||||||||
| 0 | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | ||||||
| 1st | +0 | +2 | +0 | +2 | Affluent, aura, domain, orisons | 3 | 1+1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2nd | +1 | +3 | +0 | +3 | Prestigious influence | 4 | 2+1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3rd | +2 | +3 | +1 | +3 | Aristocratic erudition +1 | 4 | 2+1 | 1+1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4th | +3 | +4 | +1 | +4 | 4 | 3+1 | 2+1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| 5th | +3 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Servitor | 4 | 3+1 | 2+1 | 1+1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6th | +4 | +5 | +2 | +5 | Aristocratic erudition +2 | 4 | 3+1 | 3+1 | 2+1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 7th | +5 | +5 | +2 | +5 | Leadership | 4 | 4+1 | 3+1 | 2+1 | 1+1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 8th | +6/+1 | +6 | +2 | +6 | Regional expertise | 4 | 4+1 | 3+1 | 3+1 | 2+1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9th | +6/+1 | +6 | +3 | +6 | Aristocratic erudition +3 | 4 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 3+1 | 2+1 | 1+1 | — | — | — | — |
| 10th | +7/+2 | +7 | +3 | +7 | 4 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 3+1 | 3+1 | 2+1 | — | — | — | — | |
| 11th | +8/+3 | +7 | +3 | +7 | 4 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 3+1 | 2+1 | 1+1 | — | — | — | |
| 12th | +9/+4 | +8 | +4 | +8 | Regional expertise | 4 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 3+1 | 3+1 | 2+1 | — | — | — |
| 13th | +9/+4 | +8 | +4 | +8 | Greater leadership | 4 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 3+1 | 2+1 | 1+1 | — | — |
| 14th | +10/+5 | +9 | +4 | +9 | 4 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 3+1 | 3+1 | 2+1 | — | — | |
| 15th | +11/+6/+1 | +9 | +5 | +9 | Aristocratic erudition +5 | 4 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 3+1 | 2+1 | 1+1 | — |
| 16th | +12/+7/+2 | +10 | +5 | +10 | Regional expertise | 4 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 3+1 | 3+1 | 2+1 | — |
| 17th | +12/+7/+2 | +10 | +5 | +10 | 4 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 3+1 | 2+1 | 1+1 | |
| 18th | +13/+8/+3 | +11 | +6 | +11 | Aristocratic erudition +6 | 4 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 3+1 | 3+1 | 2+1 |
| 19th | +14/+9/+4 | +11 | +6 | +11 | Greater leadership | 4 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 3+1 | 3+1 |
| 20th | +15/+10/+5 | +12 | +6 | +12 | Peerless patrician | 4 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 | 4+1 |
Summary of Lost Class Abilities
These abilities of the original class are lost or modified in this archetype:
- Class Skills
- Weapon Proficiency
- Channel Energy
- Spontaneous Spells