Class - Lurker

Pelgrane Press Ltd » Blog Archive » Lurker http://site.pelgranepress.com/index.
php/lurker/
HOME ABOUT US CONTACT US NEWS SHOP SEE PAGE XX RETAILERS
LICENSING FORUM
Lurker
Cat Tobin | March 14, 2014 | 2 Comments | 13th age, See Page XX
Lurker
by Casey Peavler and Ryven Cedrylle
Art by Kaitlynn Peavler
A moment of concentration brought a shadow into Tullie’s hand, the misty substance
hardening into a stiletto dagger as light as a feather and harder than dragon bones. Her
prey was currently occupied with the entertainment he had paid for tonight, and judging
by the noises from behind the closed door he was getting his money’s worth.
Good for him, even a slaver deserved a good memory before he died. His blood was
needed to open the Rose Gate, but a drop would have sufficed. How sad for him that the
last descendant of the Flower Czar was a waste of flesh and bone. Her senses were
focused on the room before her, waiting for the indication that it was time to strike.
1 of 14 04/08/2016 03:41 AM
Pelgrane Press Ltd » Blog Archive » Lurker http://site.pelgranepress.com/index.php/lurker/
Hopefully it would be soon, he sounded like a braying donkey in there.
Overview
Play Style
Whether they are heroic or villainous, all Lurkers are thoroughly in touch with their
predatory nature. Lurkers operate best when striking from the dark after spending time
observing the behavior of their target, but even without time to prepare they are
dangerous foes. Misdirection and deceit serve them as thoroughly as a Paladin’s shield
and armor, and the dark powers they call upon bolster them like the powers of a Cleric.
Ability Scores
Dexterity and Lurkers go together like a knife and a kidney. Your attacks are based off
Dexterity, and it augments your ability to stalk and hunt silently. Charisma is a close
second, several of your Class Features have feats which grant you bonuses based off
your Charisma score. Your recoveries are a precious commodity, so make certain you
don’t neglect your Constitution score.
Lurkers get a +2 class bonus to Dexterity or Charisma, whichever you don’t get from
your race
Races
Demontouched and Dark Elves have an innate bond to the dark energies that make them
superb candidates for this class. The innate vitality of Dwarves and Steelborn provide a
boon of health and stamina which can make a large difference if a Lurker ends up in the
worst imaginable situation: a fair fight.
Backgrounds
The backgrounds of Lurkers tend to be headed in the same direction as the Rogue, but
coming from a more supernatural background. Whereas rogues gain their stealth and
cunning from pure physical and mental perfection, Lurkers have taken a dark and (some
might say) easier path to power. Easy power often comes with a price however, consider
painting your backgrounds with hints of ancient curses and faustian bargains gone
wrong.
2 of 14 04/08/2016 03:41 AM
Revived by the Prince of Shadows, Killed the Emperor’s Heir, Son of the Diabolist,
Graduate of the Shadow Academy, Cursed by the Midnight Serpent, Nightmare Refugee,
Half-turned Vampire, Vengeful Revenant, Rode With the Wild Hunt.
Icons
The Prince of Shadows seems at first glance to be an ideal candidate for a positive
relationship, but he seems to disdain Lurkers for some reason. Perhaps he sees a little
too much of himself in them? Your dark power could easily draw the attention of the
Diabolist or the Lich King, whether you like it or not. A particularly crafty Lurker might
secure the allegiance of the Crusader or the Great Gold Wyrm, using her dark power to
hunt down demons that have managed to manifest within the mortal world.
Gear
At 1st level Lurkers start with one or two melee weapons, a ranged weapon if preferred,
light armor, and any nonmagical gear that would be appropriate. Some Lurkers prefer to
wield a light shield or buckler as well. Lurkers who are frugal with their money start
with 25 gp, while those who lead a riskier start with 1d6 x 10 gp in their pockets.
Armor
Anything beyond minimal armor is little more than a hindrance to Lurkers. Heavy armor
restricts movement and creates noise, both of which are less than beneficial to a warrior
that favors stealth and speed above all else.
Type Base AC
None 12
Light 12
Heavy 15 (-2 Attacks)
Shield +1
Weapons
3 of 14 04/08/2016 03:41 AM
To a Lurker a weapon isn’t nearly as important as the creative and deadly ways it can be
used. Still, there is something to be said for comfort and familiarity. Most are
comfortable with light weapons; cudgels, daggers, hatchets, even the rapier. Most find
that larger battlefield weapons inhibit their deceitful fighting style, but some tap into
their dark legacy to wield bastard swords, battle axes, or even their bare hands with
unparalleled efficiency. Their preference is for melee weapons almost exclusively, but if a
crossbow is needed they’re comfortable enough with them to wield them effectively.
Melee Weapons
One Handed Two Handed
Small
1d4 1d6
Light or Simple
1d6 1d8
Heavy or Martial
1d8 (-2 to attack) 1d10 (-2 to attack)
Ranged
Thrown Crossbow Bow
Small
1d4 1d4 —
Light or Simple
4 of 14 04/08/2016 03:41 AM
1d6 1d6 1d6
Heavy or Martial
— 1d8 (-1 attack) 1d8 (-2 attack)
Basic Attacks
Melee Attack Ranged Attack
At-Will At-Will
Target: One enemy Target: One enemy
Attack: Dexterity + Level vs AC Attack: Dexterity + Level vs AC
Hit: Weapon + Dexterity Damage Hit: Weapon + Dexterity Damage
Miss: Damage equal to your level Miss: —
Lurker Level Progression
Lurker Total Hit Total Feats Lurker Level-up Damage

Level Points Talents Ability Bonus From
Bonuses Ability
Scores
Level 1 (7+CON 1 3 — ability
mod) x 3 Adventurer modifier
Level 4 (7+CON 4 3 +1 to 3 ability
mod) x 6 Adventurer Abilities modifier
Level 5 (7+CON 4 4 — 2 x ability
mod) x 8 Adventurer, modifier
1 Champion
2 Champion
5 of 14 04/08/2016 03:41 AM
Level 7 (7+CON 4 4 +1 to 3 2 x ability

mod) x 12 Adventurer, Abilities modifier
3 Champion,
3 Champion,
1 Epic
3 Champion,
2 Epic
Level 10 (7+CON 4 5 +1 to 3 3 x ability
mod) x 24 Adventurer, Abilities modifier
3 Champion,
3 Epic
Lurker Stats
Initiative, AC, PD, MD, Hit Points, Recovery Dice, Feats, and some Talents are level
dependent.
Ability Bonus +2 Dexterity or Charisma (different from

racial bonus)
Initiative Dex mod + level
Armor Class (light or no armor) 12 + middle of Con/Dex/Wis + Level
Armor Class (light or no with shield) 13 + middle of Con/Dex/Wis + Level
Physical Defense 11 + middle of Str/Con/Dex + Level
Mental Defense 10 + middle of Int/Wis/Cha + Level
Hit Points See Level Progression Chart
Recoveries 3
Recovery Dice (1d8 x Level) + Con mod
Backgrounds 8 points, max 5 in any one background
Icon Relationships 3
Talents See Level Progression Chart
6 of 14 04/08/2016 03:41 AM
Feats 1 Per Level
Class Features
All Lurkers start at Level 1 with the following Class Features.
Place of Power
At the start of each session designate one location to be a Place of Power, a location that
has special significance to you or has an abundance of the same dark energies that fuel
your unnatural might. It could be a town’s cemetery, your home, your coffin, the site of a
nearby murder. Given the dark nature of this class it should usually be something
sinister, creepy, or dark.
Bloody Immortal
You have only three recoveries. Perhaps your dark magick has drained your vitality or
you hunger for sentient life. You monstrously heal all of your HP without spending any
recoveries OR regain all of your recoveries during a short rest. During the rest, you may
also roll a normal save. If you succeed, regain both your recoveries and your HP. If you
ever have 0 HP and no recoveries, you must take on a shadowy form and retreat to a
place of personal power else you crumble to dust and your soul is lost. You return from
your place of power at the end of the next short rest with full HP and recoveries.
Death’s Mark
As a standard action, you can Mark one creature you can see and sustain it for
subsequent rounds as a quick action. The target’s vulnerable points and the gaps in their
defense glow red to your terrible sight. While the creature is Marked, increase its
vulnerability to your attacks by 2. Marked creatures are not aware that they are Marked.
Heroic Feat: On an even hit, a Marked target takes extra damage equal to your charisma
modifier if you are the only creature engaged with it.
Champion Feat: Increase vulnerability by 4 instead of 2.
Epic Feat: You no longer need to be the only creature engaged with the target to gain
your bonus damage.
Finishing Move
7 of 14 04/08/2016 03:41 AM
When you deal damage that reduces a creature to 5hp, you execute a finishing move. The
target is reduced to 0hp. Describe a second attack that ends your enemy in a grisly
fashion. Increase to 10hp at champion, 20hp at epic.
Adventurer Feat: When the Escalation Die is 5 or higher, double the HP needed to
trigger.
Champion Feat: When the Escalation Die is 4 or higher, double the HP needed to trigger.
Epic Feat: If you execute a Finishing Move on a Critical Hit, increase the Escalation Dice
by 1.
Class Talents
Choose three talents at level 1. Gain an extra talent at levels 5 and 8.
Midnight Noose
Whenever you have a free hand you may attack nearby enemies with a shadowy noose
with a dice size of d6, other than the range extension this is considered a melee attack
for all intents and purposes. You may expend a recovery to force your target to become
engaged with you. Your noose disappears after this attack is concluded.
Adventurer Feat: The noose no longer dissipates at the end of your attack. Instead it
lasts until you dismiss it as a free action. The rope can be up to fifteen feet in length and
is as strong as the strongest nonmagical rope.
Champion Feat: If you pull a creature to you with this power, it is considered grabbed by
you.
Epic Feat: While you have a creature grabbed with your noose you can shank them as a
standard action. You do not need to roll an attack, and instead automatically deal half the
normal damage you would do with a one-handed melee attack.
Dark Hideaway
8 of 14 04/08/2016 03:41 AM
You and only you can reach into a shadowy pocket dimension and store or retrieve
nonliving objects in it as a standard action. This pocket dimension can safely hold up to
250 pounds until the next sunrise. At sunrise roll a d6, on a 1 all objects inside the Dark
Hideaway return to where you were when they were put into it.
Heroic Feat: Once per day you can reach through your Dark Hideaway into your Place of
Power and retrieve a single object.
Champion Feat: Once per day you can reach into solid objects and open them the same
way you reach into your Dark Hideaway. Doing hole creates a hole two feet wide and six
feet deep for ten minutes. Move quickly.
Epic Feat: Remove the “nonliving” restriction and increase the weight limit to 4,000
pounds. Remove the d6 risk dice at sunrise.
GM Note: “Sunrise is in one hour. You’ve gotta ditch that dead body you stored in there
fast.”
Vampiric Might
Dark energy strengthens your body, eliminating the usefulness of weapons altogether.
Your hands, feet, and any other useful appendage now do qualify as one-handed melee
Heavy Weapons, and you no longer take the penalty for wielding a heavy weapon. You
cannot take this if you have taken Ebon Smithing.
On a natural odd hit you gain temporary hit points equal to twice your level. You can also
use Dexterity in place of Strength for any skill checks that would call for it.
Adventurer Feat: Once per day you can gain temporary hit points from this talent with an
even hit.
Champion: Once per encounter you can gain temporary hit points from this talent with
an even hit.
Epic: Once combat per day add the level of the creature you hit to the amount of
temporary hit points gained with this talent.
Ebon Smithing
You can craft weapons out of raw shadow and have no need to carry a dedicated weapon
on your person. You no longer take the penalty for wielding a Heavy Weapon when
wielding an Ebon Weapon. You cannot take this if you have taken Vampiric Might.
9 of 14 04/08/2016 03:41 AM
Adventurer Feat: Once per day when you reduce an enemy to less than 0hp, apply the
surplus damage to another engaged creature.
Champion: One encounter per day, your shadow weapon deals d12 damage. It also looks
way cooler for this encounter.
Epic: Once per encounter when you reduce an enemy to less than 0hp, apply the surplus
damage to another engaged creature.
Nightmare Venom
Poison condensed into solid form from the maddening energies of a mortal nightmare.
Roll 1d6 at the start of each turn, if you roll equal to or lower than the Escalation Dice
you snag a recent nightmare off a nearby enemy, and cannot grab another nightmare
until the next encounter. The next time you hit the creature you snagged a nightmare
from it takes ongoing 5 damage per tier until the end of the encounter (no save). You can
apply the venom to a different creature on a hit instead, but the damage becomes save
ends.
Adventurer Feat: Targets under the effect of Nightmare Venom are also Dazed (Save
Ends). If the Venom’s effect is already a Save Ends, one save ends all related effects.
Champion Feat: Gain one additional use of Nightmare Venom per day. This additional use
pulls a random memory from the target rather than a nightmare, fully removing the
memory from the target’s mind. To pull a specific memory you must pass a skill check
determined by the tier of the target.
Epic Feat:Targets under the effect of Nightmare Venom are confused (save ends). If the
Venom’s effect is already a Save Ends, one save ends all related effects.
GM Note: The Champion Tier feat here seems like a really powerful option, and it is. It’s
also your best friend for railroading ignorant players who are not following your finely
crafted narrative.
Deadman’s Lantern
You can summon a Deadman’s Lantern at-will. While holding a Deadman’s Lantern it
provides light that only you can see, functioning the same as if you had Darkvision. While
holding it, you also deal an extra 1d4 fire damage per tier while holding it.
Heroic Tier: Increase the bonus damage to 1d6.
10 of 14 04/08/2016 03:41 AM
Champion Tier: Your allies now benefit from the Deadman Lantern’s light.
Epic Tier: Increase the bonus damage to 1d8.
The Evil Eye
Apply curse when you hit with odd or when a nearby creature rolls a 13 on an attack.
While cursed, the target creature subtracts the escalation dice from its attack rolls until
the end of your next turn.
Adventurer Feat: Once per day you can force a cursed creature to reroll an attack and
take the lower result.
Champion Feat: Curse becomes Save Ends.
Epic Feat: Once per day force a cursed creature to apply its attack to a target of your
designation.
Crawstep
When you are not engaged with an enemy you can teleport to being engaged with any
creature physically involved in the encounter (i.e. they’re on the map) as a move action.
Adventurer Feat: Once per day when you teleport, you can make a basic attack as a
quick action.
Champion Feat: The next basic attack you make after you teleport can hit vs. PD instead
of AC.
Epic Feat: Once per encounter when you teleport, you can make a basic attack as a quick
action.
Mist Form
Once per day when you rally you become immune to attacks versus AC or PD and cannot
make attacks against AC or PD until the start of your next turn.
Adventurer Feat:You also gain resistance 16+ to attacks vs. MD.
Champion Feat: Once per day you can make an attack Cha vs PD as a Standard Action,
on a hit the target acts as if they had gone into Mist Form without regaining any hit
11 of 14 04/08/2016 03:41 AM
points. This does not count as your use of Mist Form for the day. The Escalation Die does
not increase at the start of the next round.
Epic Feat: You can choose to exude traces of your mist form at-will. When you do, you
and all enemies engaged with you can’t make opportunity attacks.
Cruel Grimoire
Create a dark copy of a spell from another class.
Pick a spellcasting class, you may take one spell of your level or lower from that class.
Rename the power to reflect the dark taint that your power places upon it. Cure Light
Wounds could be Necromantic Healing, reflecting you funneling the life energy of a slain
foe into an ally. Burning Hands could be Skeletal Hands, where the attack takes the form
of skeletal burning digits that lash out at your foes. If the spell has feats available, you
may take those feats as well.
Adventurer Tier: The spell you’ve taken uses your Charisma score for both attack and
damage.
Champion Tier: You gain the Ritual Caster feat, and also gain the ability to sacrifice one
of your Recoveries (or perhaps the recovery of a willing ally) in place of a daily spell.
Epic Tier: Write a second spell from the same class as your first down in your
Necronomicon. You gain a dark copy of that spell in addition to the first spell.
Shadow Minion
You gain a small minion, mechanically identical to the Wizard’s Familiar talent. The
minion should be suitably twisted or macabre in description. A spider is good. A spider
with a human face is better. A spider with a human child’s face is best.
2 Responses to “Lurker”
1. Leonard Anthony says:

March 18, 2014 at 2:10 am
A very interesting concept. Basically a vampire rogue is I’m understanding it right.

I’m personally biased against vampires, but this new class adds both players’
options and interesting new lore (particularly the suggested connection with the
Prince of Shadows).
12 of 14 04/08/2016 03:41 AM
Just a few nitpicks about the editing though:
1. Bloody Immortal says “If you ever have 0 HP and no recoveries, you must take on
a shadowy form and retalent to a place of personal power else you crumble to dust
and your soul is lost.”
What is “retalent”?
2. The section “Class Talents” starts with the note: “Choose three talents and
talents(name subject to final approval) at level 1.”
I get the standard “choose 3 talents at level 1” but what does “and talents(name
subject to final approval)” mean? Sounds like a new mechanic that’s been edited
out.
Thanks!
Reply
2. Wade Rockett says:
April 14, 2014 at 10:22 pm
Typos fixed, thanks!
Reply
Leave a Reply
Name (required)
Mail (will not be published) (required)
Website
Search here...
Products
13 of 14 04/08/2016 03:41 AM
13th Age
Ashen Stars
Dying Earth and Gaean Reach
Fear Itself
GUMSHOE One-2-One
Hillfolk
Ken Writes About Stuff
Lorefinder
Mutant City Blues
Night's Black Agents
Owl Hoot Trail
Seven Wonders
Skulduggery
The Esoterrorists
TimeWatch
Trail of Cthulhu
The Birds
Forthcoming
Reviews
All Updates
© Pelgrane Press Ltd | Wordpress Theme adapted by Graham Walmsley from original
design by strangeEGG.com.
14 of 14 04/08/2016 03:41 AM

Class - Lurker

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Class - Lurker

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Pelgrane Press Ltd » Blog Archive » Lurker http://site.pelgranepress.com/index.

HOME ABOUT US CONTACT US NEWS SHOP SEE PAGE XX RETAILERS

Art by Kaitlynn Peavler

Hopefully it would be soon, he sounded like a braying donkey in there.

Heavy 15 (-2 Attacks)

One Handed Two Handed

1d8 (-2 to attack) 1d10 (-2 to attack)

Thrown Crossbow Bow

1d6 1d6 1d6

— 1d8 (-1 attack) 1d8 (-2 attack)

Melee Attack Ranged Attack

Target: One enemy Target: One enemy

Attack: Dexterity + Level vs AC Attack: Dexterity + Level vs AC

Hit: Weapon + Dexterity Damage Hit: Weapon + Dexterity Damage

Miss: Damage equal to your level Miss: —

Lurker Level Progression

Lurker Total Hit Total Feats Lurker Level-up Damage

Level 7 (7+CON 4 4 +1 to 3 2 x ability

Ability Bonus +2 Dexterity or Charisma (diﬀerent from

Initiative Dex mod + level

Armor Class (light or no armor) 12 + middle of Con/Dex/Wis + Level

Armor Class (light or no with shield) 13 + middle of Con/Dex/Wis + Level

Physical Defense 11 + middle of Str/Con/Dex + Level

Mental Defense 10 + middle of Int/Wis/Cha + Level

Hit Points See Level Progression Chart

Recovery Dice (1d8 x Level) + Con mod

Backgrounds 8 points, max 5 in any one background

Talents See Level Progression Chart

Feats 1 Per Level

All Lurkers start at Level 1 with the following Class Features.

Champion Feat: Increase vulnerability by 4 instead of 2.

Choose three talents at level 1. Gain an extra talent at levels 5 and 8.

Heroic Tier: Increase the bonus damage to 1d6.

Epic Tier: Increase the bonus damage to 1d8.

The Evil Eye

Champion Feat: Curse becomes Save Ends.

Adventurer Feat:You also gain resistance 16+ to attacks vs. MD.

Create a dark copy of a spell from another class.

1. Leonard Anthony says:

A very interesting concept. Basically a vampire rogue is I’m understanding it right.

Just a few nitpicks about the editing though:

Typos ﬁxed, thanks!

Mail (will not be published) (required)

You might also like