Just playing around with prestige class design. I've tried to create prestige classes exactly twice before, so I'm not at all good with this stuff. Please let me know what you think?


The dwarf ancestor priest has chosen to honor the legions of dwarven dead, instead of the gods, and to call upon them for advice and strength in times of need. This act does not offend the deities; rather, they continue granting spells, honored that the cleric chooses to serve clan, gods and ancestors alike. Ancestor priests are frequently tied to a community but may roam occasionally in search of greater service to dwarvenkind. They are sworn foes of all necromantic magic, for they judge it truly evil to hinder any soul from joining the feast-halls of its fathers. As living connections to the ancestors, an ancestor priest must honor them daily and must exemplify proper dwarven virtues. Frequently their clothes reflect older, more conservative styles. In return for the priest's service, the ancestors offer up knowledge, and more - at the very apogee of the priest's power, he may call dwarven spirits to his aid in battle.

Hit Die: d8

Requirements: In order to become an ancestor priest, the character must fulfill the following;
Race: Dwarf
Skills: Knowledge (History) +6, Knowledge (Religion) +5
SpellS: Must be able to cast 2nd level Divine spells

Class Skills: The ancestor priest's class skills are Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Heal, Knowledge (religion), Knowledge (history), Knowledge (dungeoneering), Profession, Sense Motive, Spellcraft
Skill points at each level: 2 + Int modifier

Class Features: Ancestor priests gain no new weapon or armor proficiencies

Lvl BAB Fort Will Ref
1 +0 +2 +2 +0
2 +1 +3 +3 +0
3 +2 +3 +3 +1
4 +2 +4 +4 +1
5 +3 +4 +4 +1
6 +3 +5 +5 +2
7 +5 +5 +5 +2
8 +6 +6 +6 +2
9 +6 +6 +6 +3
10 +7 +7 +7 +3

Special abilities:

1 - Knowledge of the ancients, first ancestral ally
2 - +1 to existing spellcaster level, immunity to fear
3 - Wisdom of the ancients, Balm to the Accursed +1d6
4 - +1 to existing spellcaster level, Fortitute of the ancients
5 - Second ancestral ally, Craft of the ancients
6 - +1 to existing spellcaster level, Balm to the Accursed +2d6
7 - Craft of the ancients
8 - +1 to existing spellcaster level, Balm to the Accursed +3d6
9 - third ancestral ally
10 - +1 to existing spellcaster level, Call the spirits

Knowledge of the ancients - The character gains a permanent +3 to any single knowledge skill, as he may draw on his ancestral memory of prior events.
Immunity to fear - The character is immune to all forms of fear, for what is fear if death brings only unity with his mighty forebears?
Wisdom of the ancients - The character gains an extra domain of his choice, as he can draw on his ancestors' understanding of the domain.
Fortitude of the ancients - The character recalls ancestral experience of any single type of attack and gains a permanent +2 to any one saving throw.
Balm to the accursed - The character is particularly apt at returing dead - dwarven dead especially - to the grave so that their spirits may pass on to ancestral halls. Any successful turn attempt does extra damage.
Craft of the ancients - The character gains a bonus metamagic feat - reflecting knowledge offered by his ancestral contacts or prior lives.
Ancestral ally - at 1, 5, and 9th level the character is so in tune with specific dwarves of the past - often his own lineage and possible prior lives - that he may channel their spirits through his body, once per day. The ally has a level equal to the prestige class level plus charisma modifier and may belong to any class or combination of classes. This possession like effect lasts for one encounter or combat, and the priest may return to his normal persona at any time. Once chosen those allies do not change; they are particularly honored by the priest in his daily practice.
Call the spirits - at 10th level, the character gains the potent ability to summon a horde of dwarven ghosts - any number of dwarven spirits with total hit dice equal to his level plus charisma modifier, and which may not be turned or rebuked. For instance, a 10th level ancestor priest with a 16 charisma could call 13 1st level warrior ghosts as allies, or a combination of one 7th level, a 3rd level, and three 1st level warrior ghosts to aid in the fight. These immaterial allies will aid the priest in one combat - and it's combat they are there to help in. If the ancestor priest is slain or dismisses the spirits, they vanish.

It's assumed that any time an ally or the spirit horde ability is used, it is important to the wellbeing - even in the abstract sense - of dwarvenkind as a whole. The ancestors take a very dim view of being called away from their feasthalls for no particularly good reason.