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 or not you affect enemies and how you affect them, it's convoluted, hard to understand, hard to remember, and is a strange subsystem in and of itself that is dissimilar to everything else in the Player's Handbook. Thus comes this variant: fast, easy, quick, and simple, this is what Turn Undead should have been from the start.

As per the original, a cleric's alignment affects both how he can use his turn undead class feature and which type of spells (the Cure or Inflict series) he can cast spontaneously. Good clerics can spontaneous cast Cure spells and may Exorcise the Unliving, while evil clerics can spontaneous cast Inflict spells and can Bolster Undead and Interrupt Connection. Neutral clerics choose one of these two options upon taking their first level in the class, as in the Player's Handbook. Individual undead may only be affected by this ability once per turn, and this ability may be used a number of times per encounter equal to the cleric's Charisma modifier. All the abilities detailed below are supernatural standard actions that do not provoke attacks of opportunity and last until the start of the cleric's next turn.

Exorcise the Unliving

Clerics that can channel positive energy may emanate an aura of positive energy within a 60' radius centered on the cleric. Any undead that begins its turn within 60' of the cleric or comes within 60' of the cleric during its turn must make a Will save (DC 10 + 0.5 ½ cleric level + cleric's Charisma modifier) or take 1d6 damage per class level the cleric possesses (half damage on a successful save). On a failed save, an undead is staggered and may not voluntarily take any movement that brings it closer to the cleric for one round. Undead with cover take only half damage (which they may still save to halve), and gain a +2 bonus to the save.

Greater Turning

Clerics who normally have the ability to destroy undead with a successful turning attempt (such as via the Sun domain) instead deal double damage when using this ability.

Bolster Undead

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

Interrupt Connection

Clerics that channel negative energy may choose to momentarily interrupt an undead's connection to the Negative Energy Plane, rather than bolstering undead. When interrupting the connection of undead in the area, the cleric forces all undead in the area to make a Will save (DC 10 + 0.5 ½ cleric level + cleric's Charisma modifier) or be dazed for one round.

Turn Resistance

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

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