Turn Undead (3.5e Variant Rule)

Author: Ghostwheel (talk) Date Created: July 18, 2010 Status: Complete Editing: Clarity edits only please

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Turn Undead

There are a number of problems with the way D&D handles Turn Undead; it's overly complicated, it either neutralizes enemies or does absolutely nothing, it's completely random whether you affect enemies and how you affect them, it's convoluted, hard to understand, hard to remember, and a strange subsystem in and of itself the is dissimilar to everything else in the PHB. Thus comes this variant; fast, easy, quick, simple, this is what Turn Undead should have been from the start.

As originally, good clerics may Exorcise the Living, while evil clerics can Bolster Undead and Interrupt Connection, and this choice also governs their ability to channel cure or inflict spells. Neutral clerics choose upon taking their first level in the class, and afterwards either channel or inflict according to their choice as in the PHB. Individual undead may only be affected once per turn by this ability, and this ability may be used a number of times equal to the cleric's Charisma modifier per encounter. All the below are supernatural, standard actions that do not provoke AoOs and last until the start of the cleric's next turn.

Exorcise the Unliving

Clerics that can channel positive energy may exorcise the unliving from an area, allowing the cleric to emanate an aura of positive energy out to 60'. Any undead who begins their turn within 60' of the cleric or comes within 60' of the cleric must make a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 cleric level + Charisma modifier) or take 1d6 damage per level the cleric possesses (half damage on a successful save). On the failed save, the undead may not voluntarily take any movement that brings him closer to the cleric for one round. Undead with cover take only half damage and gain a +2 bonus to the save.

Bolster Undead

Clerics that channel negative energy may bolster their minions against the positive energy that another cleric may channel. Upon imbuing undead with negative energy, any undead that begins their turn within 60' of the cleric or comes within 60' of the cleric heals for 1d6 damage for every class level the cleric possesses, and gains a +4 bonus to resist being turned until the start of the cleric's next turn.

Interrupt Connection

Clerics that channel negative energy may instead interrupt an undead's connection to the negative energy plane for a moment. When interrupting the connection of undead in the area, the cleric forces all undead in the area to make a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 cleric level + Charisma modifier) or be dazed for one round.

Turn Resistance

Undead with turn resistance gain a bonus equal to their turn resistance to the Will save against being exorcised or interrupted.

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