The Champion, a Black Hack Class

As I mentioned in a previous post I've been running the Black Hack and it has me wanting to scratch the creation itch. One of my players is running a very smash heavy Cleric character which made me think of the Paladin from my CRPG days. I looked around and did not find a Black Hack version of the Paladin.

Borrowing from the rulebook and taking inspiration from the community, I created the Champion. A warrior for a holy order. Good or evil, I don't care. It is your game if you want a member of a chaotic order of divine avengers who worship eldritch beings.

Champion

STARTING STATS

EQUIPMENT

Every Champion starts with the Symbol of their Order on their clothing or shield. Also choose to start the game with either A or B:

• A - Shining metal cuirass (AV2), a large shield (+1 Armour Die), one-handed hammer, 2d4 coins & purse, secret orders from the Abbot
• B - Dark iron breastplate (AV2), black cape, dark iron helmet (+1 Armour Die), two-handed sword, 3d6 coins & purse, a ring of thorns

BANISH UNHOLY

A Champion may spend an Action to Banish all Nearby unholy Creatures by testing their WIS and adding the Creatures’ HD to the roll. For full Banish Unholy rules see Banish Undead p.15 of the Black Hack 2ed rulebook. Determine with your GM which Creatures are unholy to your order.

LAY ON HANDS

A Champion may spend an Action to touch a Close Creature flesh to flesh and heal them for 1d8 + the Champion’s Level HP by testing their WIS. If they have already performed Lay on Hands this day then this Attribute Test is made with Disadvantage. If they fail, they may no longer Lay on Hands until the holy time of their order the next day. If the Champion is of a more vile nature this may be damage instead.

SMITE

A Champion when Attacking they may verbally invoke their deity’s power. If the Attack hits the Creature the damage is normal damage + 1d4 + the Champion's Level damage. If the Attack misses the Champion has lost their deity’s favor and cannot invoke Smite until the holy time of their order the next day.

TOUCH OF GOD

A Champion may spend an Action to bless/corrupt a Nearby spot or object. This has the same effects as the Bless prayer on p.27 of the Black Hack 2ed rulebook and its inverse Corrupt/Curse, but to a location instead of a target. Any Creatures within the area experience the effects.

SACRED OATH

A Champion may swear a sacred oath to bind them closer to their Holy Order. When sworn the Oath grants a Champion access to a new Holy Aura of player's choosing.

HOLY AURA

A Champion may spend an Action to invoke a blessing from their deity. The aura surrounds the Champion for Ud6 Minutes and grants them a blessing. However a Champion cannot invoke their holy aura if they have fallen out of favor with their deity. Only one aura can be active at a time and lasts only an hour.

• Calm: +1 to Intelligence
• Courage: +1 to Wisdom
• Might: +1 to damage rolls
• Precision: -1 to hit rolls
• Shield: -1 to Defense rolls
• Vigor: +1 to Dexterity

FATE’S PLAYTHING

When a Champion assumes a sacred mission they cannot die until they have accomplished the sacred mission or their deity has forsaken them. On all OofA rolls, reroll any result of a 6 twice, ignoring any further results of a 6. When the mission has completed or the deity has forsaken the Champion, immediately make an OofA roll to determine the Champion's fate.

GAINING A NEW LEVEL

Acquire and share a number of Experiences equal to your current HD to advance a Level. When you gain a Level:

• Roll a d20 once for each Attribute - if you roll over, it goes up one point, make an extra roll for either Strength or Wisdom.
• Gain 1HD - Roll 1d8 - gain that many additional maximum HP.
• If the Level is even then swear a new Sacred Oath and select a Holy Aura.

You can download the Champion and my other homebrew Black Hack classes for on itch.