General Prestige Class : Firestorm Berserker
by Spencer Kornhaber, Dragon #314
A firestorm berserker personifies the inferno. When he rages, mind and soul are transformed into a blazing, uncontrolled fire that feeds on everything. His inner self is like a dry stack of kindling, ready to erupt into flames at any moment.
In the beginning, the fire of his rage burns only within, showing no outward sign of its presence. Later, however, the flames of his fury begin to manifest themselves in combat. Eventually, the firestorm berserker must battle with his own inner blaze lest it consume him.
Most firestorm berserkers are powerful barbarians. NPC firestorm berserkers often become loners and outcasts because of their dangerous and unpredictable natures, although some rise to become leaders because of those very traits.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Firestorm Berserker, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Alignment: Any chaotic.
- Skills: Intimidate 6 ranks.
- Feats: Iron Will, Great Fortitude, Toughness.
- Base Attack Bonus: +8.
- Special: Rage 3 times/day.
Class Skills
The firestorm berserker's class skills are Climb, Craft (any), Intimidate, and Jump.
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Class Features
All the following are class features of the firestorm berserker prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Firestorm berserkers gain no proficiency with any weapons or armor.
Kindling (Ex): The firestorm berserker's inner flames can ignite with the slightest spark. He can initiate his rage at any time, even when it isn't his turn or when he is surprised. He can activate it in response to another's action, thus gaining the benefits of rage in time to prevent or ameliorate an undesirable effect.
Rage (Ex): The character's firestorm berserker levels stack with levels of the class from which he gained the rage ability for the purpose of determining his uses per day. He does not advance in any of the class's other abilities (damage reduction, fast speed, greater rage, uncanny dodge, or the like).
Inner Flame (Ex): When the firestorm berserker reaches 2nd level, his inner flame is so hot that other fires pale in comparison, and he has enough internal heat to withstand cold temperatures. While raging. he gains resistance to cold equal to his firestorm berserker level plus his Constitution bonus (if any).
Fire Immunity (Su): When the firestorm berserker rages, he is immune to fire damage.
Heat (Su): While raging, a 4th-level firestorm berserker generates so much heat that his mere touch deals an additional +1d6 points of fire damage. The firestorm berserker's metallic weapons also conduct this heat.
Breathe Fire (Su): At 3rd level, the firestorm berserker can expel some of his soul's flames through his mouth as a breath weapon. While raging, he can breathe fire in a 10-foot cone as a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Every creature within this area takes fire damage equal to 3d6 + the firestorm berserker's Constitution bonus (if any). A successful Reflex save (DC to + the firestorm berserker's level + the firestorm berserker's Constitution modifier) halves the damage. Using this ability causes the firestorm berserker's rage to end round sooner than it otherwise would. He cannot breathe fire during the last round of his rage.
Inner Inferno (Ex): This ability allows the firestorm berserker to increase the duration of his rages by using his own body to fuel his inner inferno. On his turn in the round that his rage would normally end, he may opt to take 1d4+1 points of Constitution damage as a free action to gain an equal number of additional rounds of rage. Thus, if he "burned" 2 points of Constitution with this ability, his rage would last for 2 extra rounds. Once these bonus rounds are over, however, he must make a DC 15 Fortitude save (using the modified save bonus for rage) to prevent his inner inferno from continuing to consume him. If he succeeds, the rage ends normally; otherwise, he takes another 1d4+1 points of Constitution damage and continues to rage for an equal number of rounds. Immediately after those bonus rounds end, he must attempt another Fortitude save at the same DC, with the same results for success or failure. This process continues until the firestorm berserker succeeds on a saving throw or dies. In the latter case, his body is incinerated into ash on the spot.
Sheath of Flame (Su): At 7th level, the firestorm berserker can cause his flesh to erupt into flames while he is raging. Activating this ability is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity, and the effect ends when his rage ends. This fiery aura does not harm the firestorm berserker or his equipment. Any creature striking the firestorm berserker with its body or a melee weapon deals normal damage, but at the same time the attacker takes a number of point of fire damage equal to 1d8 plus the firestorm berserker's Constitution bonus (if any). Creatures wielding weapons with exceptional reach are not subject to this damage. This ability can be used once per day at 7th level, twice per day at 9th level, and three times per day at 10th level.
Ventilating Shout (Su): At 8th level, a raging firestorm berserker can release all of his inner flames of fury in one great shout. Activating this ability is a standard action, and it immediately ends his rage, even if it has gone out of control through use of his inner inferno ability. Every creature within a 15-foot radius takes 1d6 points of fire damage per firestorm berserker level. Any affected creature may halve the damage with a successful Reflex save (DC + 10 the firestorm berserker's level + the firestorm berserker's Constitution modifier). The firestorm berserker is immune to this damage. The firestorm berserker can use this ability once per day.
| Firestorm Berserker | Hit Die: d12 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special |
| 1st | +1 | +2 | +0 | +0 | Kindling, rage |
| 2nd | +2 | +3 | +0 | +0 | Inner flame |
| 3rd | +3 | +3 | +1 | +1 | Fire Immunity |
| 4th | +4 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Heat |
| 5th | +5 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Breathe Fire |
| 6th | +6 | +5 | +2 | +2 | Inner Inferno |
| 7th | +7 | +5 | +2 | +2 | Sheath of flame 1/day |
| 8th | +8 | +6 | +2 | +2 | Ventilating shout |
| 9th | +9 | +6 | +3 | +3 | Sheath of flame 2/day |
| 10th | +10 | +7 | +3 | +3 | Sheath of flame 3/day |
Source: Dragon #314