Palemaster
Dark Covenant
Granted at Pale Master level 10. The first use opens a one-time, permanent choice of path, and choosing doesn't spend the use. After that, each use calls on your path for 20 turns.
| Uses | 1 per rest |
| Duration | 20 turns |
Lich: Phylactery
- The first blow that would kill you while the ward is up is negated.
- You're set to 50% of your max HP (or kept where you are, if you're above that).
- The attacker takes damage equal to 50% of your max HP (magical).
- For the next 5 seconds you take no damage at all.
- The ward then ends.
- Only stops damage, not instant death effects.
Death Knight
- +1 attack bonus per 4 Pale Master levels (+4 at PM 16, +10 at PM 40).
- Every melee weapon hit heals you 5 HP. Unarmed counts; ranged weapons don't.
Necromancy DC
Necromancy spells gain +1 save DC per 2 Pale Master levels (+8 at PM 16, +20 at PM 40).
Caster Level
| Spells | Pale Master levels added to caster level |
|---|---|
| Necromancy | All of them |
| Other schools | Half |
Class Abilities
| Ability | Level | Uses | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undead Graft | 6 (3 uses from 8) | 2 → 3 | See below |
| Deathless Master Touch | 10 | 5 | See below |
Undead Graft
| Range | Touch |
| Effect | Paralyzed 1d4+2 rounds, Fortitude negates (DC 15 + PM level) |
| Spell resistance | Applies |
| Immune | Anything immune to paralysis |
| Uses | 2 (3 from PM 8); each spent use recharges after a cooldown, and resting restores all |
| PM level | Cooldown |
|---|---|
| 6–12 | 3:00 |
| 13 | 2:45 |
| 16 | 2:30 |
| 19 | 2:15 |
| 22+ | −0:15 per 3 more levels, minimum 0:30 (PM 40+) |
Deathless Master Touch
| Range | Short (ranged touch attack) |
| Damage | 2d6 negative energy per PM level, half on a Fortitude save (DC 10 + PM level) |
| Spell resistance | Applies |
| Undead | Most are immune (negative energy) |
| Uses | 5; each spent use recharges after 1 minute, and resting restores all |
| Path | Extra effect |
|---|---|
| Lich | Target takes -1 to all saves per 4 PM levels for 3 rounds |
| Death Knight | You heal half the damage dealt |
Summons
Both summons are scaled to your level a few seconds after they arrive. Neither transforms you any more.
| At your level 40 | Summon |
|---|---|
| Attack bonus | ~50 |
| AC | at least ~66 |
| HP | ~2000 |
| Damage | up to +60, in separate physical, magical and negative bonuses |
| Saves | +1 per 2 levels above the creature's own |
| Attacks/round | up to 4 (5 hasted) |
| Abilities | STR/DEX/WIS/CHA +40%, INT +20%, CON +200% (max +20 each) |
Haste from your level 12.
Wraith is built differently: it has real levels in Rogue up to yours, AC ~76 and HP ~1500 at level 40, regenerating 30 HP a round. Regeneration also means it doesn't need Harm potions to recover.
Summon Undead (PM 4, 2 uses): Ghoul (PM 4–5) → Shadow (6) → Ghast (7) → Wight (8) → Wraith (9+).
Summon Greater Undead (PM 9, 1 use) follows your path. Mummy Warrior until you choose one.
| PM level | Lich | Death Knight |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Spectre | Mummy Warrior |
| 12 | Spectre | Vampire Rogue |
| 14 | Greater Bodak | Vampire Rogue |
| 16 | Greater Bodak | Ghoul King |
| 18 | Vampire Mage | Ghoul King |
| 20 | Vampire Mage | Skeleton Blackguard |
| 22 | Lich | Skeleton Blackguard |
| 24 | Lich Lord | Skeleton Blackguard |
| 26 | Alhoon | Skeleton Blackguard |
| 28 | Elder Alhoon | Skeleton Blackguard |
| 30+ | Demilich | Skeleton Blackguard |
Epic Bonus Feats
Bonus every 3 levels (13, 16, 19).
Added to the stock bonus-feat list:
- Spell Penetration, Greater Spell Penetration
- Epic Damage Reduction 3 / 6 / 9