"What is it..? A Harbinger..?” The naive youth asked. The old man erupted from his seat, near-lunging across the table in a fruitless gesture to silence the word before it was spoken.

“Hush! You’ll bring 'em to us!” He hissed, fingernails dragging across the wooden table as he sat once more. “Speak not of them! They've nothin' but hate an’ malice in their hearts! Ruinous powers, hexes, blackened souls twisted by powers that look to you in the dark – monsters in th’ shape of men! They’ll-”

Outside, the clip-clop of hooves punctuated the roar of rain and thunder, cutting silence across the inn’s interior. A pause, before a spiked, plate-clad knuckle rap thrice upon the door.

Harbinger – Base Class

Like rumors of war or plague-ridden winds, harbingers move through battlefields and leave only ruin and sorrow in their wake. Empowered from within by a deep connection to malice, harbingers channel their negative emotions into a supernatural fighting style that is strange and terrifying to behold. Some accept the darker urges within themselves but leash them, making their wrath serve as a hound might- and others embrace the violence within, becoming killers without restraint or pity.

Cruelty and malice are the melody etched deep in a Harbinger's dark heart. With hex on their lips and cursed weapon in hand, they cut a bloody path through any who might stand in their way. Whether they control their darkness or it controls them... a Harbinger is one to be feared.

Note: This class replaces the existing Arelith custom class - Hexblade

Theme

• Dark Claim (Harbinger is best at facing a single target at the time). Dark Claim will also reward the Harbinger if the target is slain using its special abilities before the duration runs out.
• Hexes (empower Dark Claim).
• Curses (empower Harbinger).
• Bleeding, Psychic, Entropy damage types.
• Fear CC through Gruesome Technique.

Class Features

• Hit Die: d8
• BAB: High
• Proficiencies: All simple and martial weapons, light and medium armor, and shields.
• Saving Throws: High: Fortitude; Low: Will and Reflex
• Skill Points: 6 + int modifier ((6 + int modifier) * 6 at 1st level)
• Class Skills: concentration, craft mastery, bluff, disable traps, discipline, intimidate, heal, listen, lore, parry, leadership, ride, sail, search, spot, taunt, use traps.
• Spellcasting: Arcane (spell failure from armor is a factor), charisma-based (a base charisma score of 10 + the spell's level is required to cast a spell, bonus spells are based on modified charisma, and the charisma modifier affects spell DCs), and spontaneous cast (no spell preparation required). Harbinger can learn spells from levels: 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4.
• Alignment: Any non-good.
• Special: Arcane Spell Failure for Armor and Shields is reduced by 20% if most levels are in Harbinger.
• Harbinger replaces Hexblade.

Restrains

Harbinger can’t be multi-classed with Elementalist, Hemomancer, and Hexblade(replacement).

Class Charts:

Core Class Mechanic

Class Synergy

Specific Rumors of War provide synergy bonuses to Harbinger Spell Caster Level (1:1) and Class Level (1/2) [For Weapon Mortality Hex, and Atrocity] from their applicable multiclassing options.

Please note, that achieving 21+ Class Levels this way does not equate to having Epic Harbinger (that is a feat granted at the 21st Harbinger Level).

• ELDRITCH PATRONAGE: Warlock.
• LURKER IN DARKNESS: Rogue, Assassin, Shadowdancer, Invisible Blade.
• DIVINE PATRONAGE: Divine Champion.
• ETERNAL HUNTER: Ranger.
• KNIGHT OF DRAGON DOWN: Knight, Cavalier.
• HERALD OF THE GRAVE: Dirgesinger.

Dark Claim

Starting at 2nd level, a Harbinger can reach out with their sorcerous malice, marking foes as her own.

• The Dark Claim duration is 4+ 1/3 her class level. Minimum 4 rounds. Maximum 1 turn.
• Upon reuse (while on CD) the claimed creature is highlighted only for the Harbinger (once per 2 sec).
• If not on CD and having Rumors of War: Improved Dark Claim, on self-use will highlight (hostile) targets around Harbinger who are below 20% HP (once per 2 sec).
• The Dark Claim applies combat Hexes and can be improved with selectable bonus feats and path choices through Rumors of War.
• Cooldown: 1 turn + d4 rounds.
• Dark Claim is an instant ability with short range. Dark Claim is a hostile action.
• Dark Claim is a Standard Curse, hence it is removed with the Remove Curse or Restoration spell. While Dark Claim bonuses that Harbinger can get are considered a Greater Curse: so to dispel bonuses from Harbinger by using Remove Curse requires winning a Caster Level check against Harbinger Caster Level.

Accursed Will

At 3rd level: +2 saving throws against spells and spell-like abilities. Improves to +4 at 21 class levels.

Whispers of the Past

At 4th level: Harbinger gains +3 Lore (soft). As well as has a chance to learn secret and potentially lost knowledge. Blood Magic has a lower risk of blood arcana surge.

Hex Weapon: Mortality Hex

At 5th level: Harbingers can imbue their weapon of choice with a Mortality Hex. Weapon is bestowed Enhancement bonus equal to + 1 / 6 Class Levels (Min +1, Max +5). Applies VFX based on the energy type chosen through Dark Focus. Energy damage gained through Dark Focus does not stack with temp essence.

Dark Focus

At 5th level, Harbinger picks a specialization (path):

Crimson Count(es)

• Becomes Blood Magic proficient:
  • Spell Hemorrhage DC increased by 4.
  • Epic Harbinger is treated as if having ESF Necromancy to determine duration and effect of Predator.
  • On the 15th level receive an ability to cast Vermilion Stars spell as a spell-like ability with a 4-minute cooldown. Uses Atrocity: Whisper DC.
  • On the 21st level receive an ability to cast Blood Homunculus spell as a spell-like ability with an 8-minute cooldown. (The tier of the summon depends on the CL and imposes HP cost {21+: 1: 10%HP | 24+: 2: 15%HP | 27+: 3: 20%HP} While the duration is 2 rounds per CL). The HP cost does not have safety measures, yes you can kill yourself with it.
• Has a refund chance for casting Blood Arcana Spells (20+(2*CL/Spell Level)%). While Spell Hemorrhage refund chance is 100%.
• Affects the Atrocity Abilities.
• Hex Weapon is empowered with +1d6 Bleeding Damage (Damage Dice increase to 2d4 On Epic Harbinger). Does not stack with temp essence.
• Killing a claimed creature with any Atrocity ability: Harbinger is healed for the amount depending on the HD of the Harbinger and the target as well as receives Damage Reduction for 2 turns:
  • HD<5: 2d6+Charisma Mod HP. DR 3/+1.
  • HD 6-10: 4d6+ Charisma Mod HP. DR 5/+2.
  • HD 11-19: 6d6+ Charisma Mod HP. DR 7/+4.
  • HD 20-26: 8d6+ Charisma Mod HP. DR 9/+5.
  • HD 27+: 10d6+ Charisma Mod HP. DR 11/+6.
    • Healing only activates from targets having blood.
    • On Epic level (21+ class levels) excess healing can over-heal for 10 turns (Max 30 HP).

Dark Claim: Crimson Count(es): Crimson Claim

Dark Claim inflicts bleeding damage over time to the selected target (works only against non-crit immune targets capable of bleeding). 1d4 damage per round. This damage increases to 2d4 at the 13th level, 3d4 at the 21st level, and 4d4 at the 28th level. Does not stack from multiple sources. The Harbinger is healed for 1d4, this healing increases to 2d4 at the 21st level. Max Duration: 1 turn. Targets immune to bleeding damage will receive entropy damage instead (it will not provide healing). This effect can be broken with the remove curse spell.

Cursed Razor

• Becomes Curse proficient:
  • DC of Bestow Curse is increased by 4. Moreover, Harbinger is treated as having ESF for determining the spell effect.
  • DC of Baleful Polymorph is increased by 2.
  • On the 15th level receives the ability to cast Harbinger Curse spell as a spell-like ability with a 4-minute cooldown. (Functions similar to Bestow Curse, Greater spell but the curse is random.) Uses Atrocity: Whisper DC.
  • On the 21st level receive an ability to cast a Curse Storm spell as a spell-like ability with an 8-minute cooldown. Uses Atrocity: Whisper DC.
• Has a refund chance of 100% for casting Bestow Curse.
• Has a refund chance of 50% for casting Baleful Polymorph.
• Affects the Atrocity Abilities.
• Hex Weapon is empowered with +1d4 Psychic Damage and 1d4 Cold Damage (Damage Dice increase to 1d6 On Epic Harbinger). Does not stack with temp essence.
• Killing a claimed creature with any Atrocity ability: Harbinger receives +2 Dodge AC, +2 Saves, +4 Discipline (soft), +4 Concentration (soft) for 2 turns (does not stack).

Dark Claim: Cursed Razor: Voices in the Dark

Dark Claim bestows onto the target 10% vulnerability to Psychic and Cold damage. These penalties increase to 20% each at the 21st level. The target also receives a -2 penalty to saving throws against Fear; Furthermore, the target has to pass a saving throw against mind mind-affecting effect on DC = 10 + ½ Harbinger Levels + Charisma Modifier or becomes frozen from fear for d3 round(s). This debuff can be broken with the remove curse spell.

Dark Seraph

• Spell-Like abilities:
  • On the 15th level receives the ability to cast Grim Terror spell as a spell-like ability with a 4-minute cooldown. Uses Atrocity: Whisper DC.
  • On the 21st level receive an ability to cast a Black Blade of Disaster spell as a spell-like ability with an 8-minute cooldown (Unlike the spell, it lasts 10 rounds and does not require concentration, the summon gains AB with Rumors of War: Improved Weapon Hex and Caster Level).
• Affects the Atrocity Abilities.
• Hex Weapon is empowered with +1d6 Entropy Damage (Damage Dice increase to 2d4 On Epic Harbinger). Does not stack with temp essence.
• Killing a claimed creature with any Atrocity ability: Harbinger receives +2 Soft AB, Damage, +4 Discipline (soft), +14% MS for 2 Turns (does not stack).

Dark Claim: Dark Seraph: Bleak Prophecy

Dark Claim bestows onto the target 10% vulnerability to Entropy damage. This penalty increases to 20% at the 21st level. When Dark Claim ends it will apply damage to the Claimed Target 2d4 per 1 round of duration. Max Duration: 1 turn. This damage is empowered if the target is below 20% HP. This effect can be broken with the remove curse spell. If delayed damage kills the target, it is accounted as if slain by atrocity and thus provides an applicable bonus for Dark Seraph.

Atrocity

Harbinger receives Strike (melee), Whisper (ranged), and Invocation (AoE) abilities. Each ability is cooldown-based and has effects depending on the chosen Dark Focus.

The cooldown can be reduced if Atrocity is used on the Claimed Target:

Strike:

Atrocity, Strike: Crimson Count(es): Red Scythe

Melee instant attack. The damage scales the closest the target is to be slain.

Normal Damage +2d6 bleeding. And an additional + bleeding per each 10% missing health (Extra damage from missing health is not subjected to empower with Rumors of War: Woe Drinker feat and not subject to critical hit damage multiplier). The for Crimson Count(es) below 11 levels is 1d4, increases to 2d4 between 11 and 20, and maxes out at 3d4.

When used on the claimed creature, if the creature does not have blood, Red Scythe will do physical damage instead.

Atrocity, Strike: Cursed Razor: Tendon Rip

Melee instant attack. Normal Damage +2d6 psychic (Mind immune targets will receive cold damage instead), the target needs to pass a reflex save against curse or suffer a movement speed penalty of 40% for 2 rounds.

When used on the claimed creature, will be slowed (as the spell) for 2 rounds instead.

DC 10 + ½ Harbinger levels + Charisma Modifier.

Atrocity, Strike: Dark Seraph: Hellstrike

Melee instant attack. Normal Damage + 2d6 entropic, the target needs to pass a will save against curse or suffer daze for 2 rounds. Immunity to Mind-Affecting blocks the effect.

When used on the claimed creature, will be stunned for 2 rounds instead.

DC 10 + ½ Harbinger levels + Charisma Modifier.

Whisper:

Atrocity, Whisper: Crimson Count(es): Royal Decree

A ranged touch attack. 1d6 damage per 2 Harbinger levels (max 10d6 bleeding damage).

The target needs to pass a will save against curse or suffer fear for d4 rounds.

The Claimed Creature below 20% HP must also succeed a Fortitude Save against curse or be slain (Death Ward and Fear Immunity protect from the effect).

DC 12 + ½ Harbinger levels + Charisma Modifier.

Atrocity, Whisper: Cursed Razor: Warlock’s Blow

A ranged touch attack. 1d6 damage per 2 Harbinger levels (max 10d6 psychic damage) (Mind immune targets will receive cold damage instead).

The target needs to pass a reflex save against the curse or be teleported to the Harbinger.

The Claimed target will be also slowed (as the spell) for 1 round.

DC 12 + ½ Harbinger levels + Charisma Modifier.

Atrocity, Whisper: Dark Seraph: Abyssal Lance

A ranged touch attack. 1d6 damage per 2 Harbinger levels (max 10d6 entropic damage). Automatically empowered against Claimed creatures.

The target needs to pass a will save against curse or suffer daze for d4 rounds. Immunity to Mind-Affecting blocks the effect.

DC 12 + ½ Harbinger levels + Charisma Modifier.

Invocation:
Atrocity, Invocation: Crimson Count(es): Waltz

Gargantuan sphere centered on the caster. Deals 15d6 bleeding damage.

The targets need to pass a fortitude save against curse or suffer 1d4 Constitution Drain and heal the Harbinger 5 hp for each drained point of constitution.

DC 14 + ½ Harbinger levels + Charisma Modifier.

Atrocity, Invocation: Cursed Razor: Festival of Nightmares

Gargantuan sphere centered on the caster. Deals 15d6 psychic damage (Mind immune targets will receive cold damage instead).

The targets need to pass a reflex save against a curse or will suffer entanglement for 2 rounds. Entanglement: restricts the creature's movement (causing them to drop to 3 dexterity) and applies a (-2) to all attacks and a -4 to dexterity.

DC 14 + ½ Harbinger levels + Charisma Modifier.

Atrocity, Invocation: Dark Seraph: Apocalyptic Cry

Gargantuan sphere centered on caster. Deals 15d6 entropic damage.

The targets need to pass a will save against curse or suffer daze for 1 round. Immunity to Mind-Affecting blocks the effect.

DC 14 + ½ Harbinger levels + Charisma Modifier.

Rumors of War

Starting from 6th, 11th, 16th, 22nd, 26th, and 30th Harbinger can select a new Hex or Curse Empowerment:

Hexes (Improve Dark Claim):

Curse Empowerments (Passive):

Familiar

At 7th Harbinger receives a familiar.

Ill Tidings

At 8th level: Increase Movement Speed by 8%, at 15 Harbinger level increase it to 16%.

Darkvision

At 13th level: Harbinger receives Feat Darkvision.

Gruesome Method

At 17th level: Harbinger receives Gruesome Method Feat.

Auto Silent Spell

At 19th level: Harbinger receives Auto Silent Spell I.

Improved Dark Claim
At 29th level:

Removes the +d4 cooldown component from Dark Claim. If cast against a target below 20% HP the target is slain unless it passes a Fort save vs Death Effect with DC = 12+ ½ Harbinger Level + Charisma Modifier (Death Ward Protects). If the target is slain with this ability, Harbinger is under the Death Knell effect gaining +2 AB, AC, and Saves for the number of rounds equal to HD of the creature slain (does not stack with itself). If not on CD self-use will highlight (hostile) targets around Harbinger below 20% HP (once per 2 sec). The application of Death Knell does not refresh Dark Claim CD.

Spellcasting

Harbinger learns and casts Arcane spells (spell failure from armor is a factor), charisma-based (a base charisma score of 10 + the spell's level is required to cast a spell, bonus spells are based on modified charisma, and the charisma modifier affects spell DCs), and spontaneous cast (no spell preparation required).

• Harbinger can learn spells from levels: 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4.
• Harbinger has individual spell progression (refer to the chart).

Spell Level 0:

• Acid Splash
• Bestow Wound
• Blades of Fire
• Chill Touch
• Daze
• Light
• Ray of Frost
• Resistance
• Vicious Mockery

Spell Level 1:

• Charm Person
• Doom
• Entropic Shield
• Expeditious Retreat
• Grease
• Ice Dagger
• Ironguts
• Mage Armor
• Magic Weapon
• Negative Energy Ray
• Protection from Alignment
• Ray of Enfeeblement
• Endure Elements
• Scare
• Shield
• Ultravision

Spell Level 2:

• Bear's Endurance
• Blindness/Deafness
• Blur
• Bull's Strength
• Cat's Grace
• Cloud of Bewilderment
• Command
• Darkfire
• Darkness
• Death Armor
• Eagle's Splendor
• False Life
• Frigid Darkness
• Frostbite
• Ghostly Visage
• Ghoul Touch
• Gust of Wind
• Halt Undead
• Hemorrhage
• Invisibility
• Lesser Dispel
• Lesser Planar Binding
• Life Transference
• Resist Elements
• See Invisibility
• Strangulate
• Tasha's Hideous Laughter
• Vampiric Touch
• Web
• Detect Curse – New
• Aura of Enmity – New

Spell Level 3:

• Bestow Curse
• Contagion
• Crimson Lightning
• Crushing Despair
• Dispel Magic
• Displacement
• Dominate Person
• Enervation
• Eyebite
• Fear
• Finger of Agony
• Frost Nova
• Greater Magic Weapon
• Haste
• Improved Invisibility
• Keen
• Minor Globe of Invulnerability
• Negative Energy Burst
• Protection from Elements
• Remove Curse
• Soul Scour
• Stinking Cloud
• Stoneskin

Spell Level 4:

• Baleful Polymorph
• Cloudkill
• Darkbolt
• Death Ward
• Dismissal
• Ethereal Visage
• Evard's Black Tentacles
• Feeblemind
• Lesser Mind Blank
• Lesser Spell Breach
• Lesser Spell Mantle
• Nightmare
• Phantasmal Killer
• Planar Binding
• Polymorph Self
• Predator
• Redbolt
• Spinal Tap

Curses:

Curse Immunities:

Certain curses have multiple immunities, which can vary from simple as immunity to effects or complex as class features, selected deity with proper piety balance, or even items and other effects.

Whatever the reason is for the curse to fail to affect a target, the exact reason is never revealed to the caster.

Curse Master List:

Curse List.xlsx

Spell Changes/New:

Remove Curse & Restoration – Spell Changes:

Restoration spells won’t remove greater curses from a target.

Remove Curse will automatically remove standard curses as it currently does.

Remove Curse can remove greater curses as long as the caster wins the caster level check vs the caster level of the greater curse.

Bestow Curse – Spell Changes:

The Bestow curse is reworked to be a short-range spell with a number of sub-options selectable from a radial menu. The caster can select the desired curse.

• Bestow curse will also be changed to Necromancy school as per SRD.
• All saving throws are made against SAVING_THROW_TYPE_CURSE.
• Some curses receive empowered effects with ESF Necromancy.
• Same curses do not stack.
• Harbinger with Path of Cursed Blade is treated as if having ESF for the purpose of determining the effect.

Options:

Evil Blight – Spell Changes:

The spell is added to Hemomancer spellbook at Tier 7.

The spell will now apply one of the 3 curses at random:

Bestow Curse, Greater – New Spell:

• Tier 8, Necromancy.
• Wiz/Sorc 8, Bard 6, Druid 8, Cleric 8, Fav Soul 8, Spellsword 8, Warlock 8, Hemomancer 8
• Medium Range.
• All saving throws are made against SAVING_TRHOW_TYPE_CURSE.
• Same curses do not stack.

Aura of Enmity – New Spell:

Spell Level(s): Harbinger 2

Innate Level: 2

School: Transmutation

Descriptor(s): Mind-affecting

Component(s): Verbal, Somatic

Range: Personal

Area of Effect / Target: Colossal (10 meters radius)

Duration: 1 turn/level

Additional Counter Spells: None

Save(s): Harmless

Spell Resistance: No

Description: The caster gains a +4 charisma bonus. All allies near the caster gain a +1 bonus to their saving throws versus curses.

If the character has a majority of levels in Harbinger, the duration changes to hours/level.

Detect Curse – New Spell:

Spell Level(s): Harbinger 2, Wizard/Sorc 2, Fav Soul 2, Bard 2, Hemomancer 2, Paladin 2, Cleric 2, Druid 2

Innate Level: 2

School: Necromancy

Component(s): Verbal, Somatic

Range: Touch

Area of Effect / Target: Single

Duration: Inst

Additional Counter Spells: None

Save(s): Harmless

Spell Resistance: No

Description: The caster attempts to detect curses on target, standard curses are automatically discovered while greater curses require to pass a Caster Level check against the Caster Level of the curse.

Moreover, the caster might gain insight into what curses are affecting the target. Each detected curse will require passing a Spellcraft check vs twice the Caster Level of the curse (greater curses receive a bonus of +10 to the difficulty).

Curse Storm – Spell Changes:

Updated curse list. The spell is no longer considered part of the Blood Arcana (meaning it changed its group to the curse spell category and casters no longer suffer the risk of Blood Arcana Surge while casting it.

Details of this and other updates, along with feedback can be left on our forums, or official partnered Discord.