Download this publication in PDF format.

Odds Breaker

by Stan!
Editing: Marc Schmalz
Design Review: Rich Redman & JD Wiker
Layout and Typesetting: Marc Schmalz

One of the hardest things to simulate in a d20 System game is luck. Oh, certainly the randomness of the dice provides a real sense of luck to the players (and on any night it is easy to see on which players fortune is smiling or frowning), but there isn't an especially good way to create a lucky character.

This publication presents a new feat and a new prestige class for use in fantasy d20 System games, and then introduces Destiny Boudreau--a sample character made using these new features--for GMs to use as they see fit in their campaigns.

New Feat

The following feat is suitable for use in any fantasy d20 System campaign.

Good Fortune

You were born under a lucky star--things just seem to go your way.

Benefit: Once per day you can reroll a single die roll you have just made before the GM declares the results of the roll. You must take the result of the reroll, even if it is worse than the original roll. This extraordinary ability may be applied to an attack roll, skill check, saving throw, ability check, damage roll, or spell penetration check only.

New Prestige Class

The following prestige class is suitable for use in any d20 System fantasy campaign.

Odds Breaker

There are people in the world (and, perhaps more importantly, in fantasy fiction) who always seem to be in the right place at the right time. Everyone know the kind--the rain holds off until the second she steps indoors, she bends down to buckle her boots just in time for an arrow to sail over her head and strike the assassin sneaking up behind her, and just when she thinks she's broke she finds a platinum piece hidden in her bedroll. Such people can be called "blessed," "charmed," or just "lucky," but this class refers to them as "odds breakers."

No single class is particularly well suited to this prestige class. In fact, the odds breaker is not really a class that a character can train for--either she's lucky or she's not. In every field of endeavor there are some characters on whom fortune seems to smile. Taking levels in odds breaker signifies the character is no longer pursuing any particular occupation or training--she is merely leaving everything to chance and trusting that things will turn out for the best.

NPC odds breakers can come from any background or discipline. They can be adventurers, mercenaries, diplomats, or any other sort of characters. The quality that links them is a casual attitude that is sometimes mistaken for laziness. The odds breakers trust their luck more than they do training or preparation. Although their temperaments can range from violent and aggressive to laid back and peaceful or secretive and deceptive, odds breakers are almost always impetuous. They will act on sudden impulses and commit themselves to unlikely courses of action, trusting their luck and instincts to pull them through relatively unscathed.

Hit Die: d6

Table OB-1: The Odds Breaker

Requirements

To qualify to become an odds breaker, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.

Skills: Any one skill 9 ranks.

Feat: Good Fortune.

Class Skills

The odds breaker's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disable Device (Int), Escape Artist (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Open Lock (Dex), Perform (Cha), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), Use Magic Device (Cha).

Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Class Features

All the following are class features of the odds breaker prestige class.

Improved Good Fortune (Ex): An odds breaker has uncanny good luck.  She is able to use the powers of her Good Fortune feat twice per day.

At 6th level, the odds breaker can use the Good Fortune feat three times per day, and at 9th level four times per day.

Snake Bit (Sp): At 2nd level, the odds breaker can cause bad fortune to befall her opponents.

As a move action, the odds breaker chooses one creature that is within 100 ft. (she must be able to see the creature or otherwise definitively identify its exact location). The creature suffers a -2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. This effect lasts for a number of minutes equal to the odds breaker's class level. A creature may only be targeted by one snake bit effect at a time.

The odds breaker may use this ability a number of times per day equal to her class level.

Aid (Sp): At 3rd level, the odds breaker gains the ability to cast the aid spell a number of times equal to her class level. For purposes of spell resistance, the odds breaker's caster level is consider to be equal to her class level.

Luck Points (Ex): At 4th level, the odds breaker gains access to a pool of luck points--a means to improve just about any action she takes. To begin with, she has a pool of 7 luck points.

She can spend 1 luck point to alter a single d20 roll used to make an attack, a skill check, an ability check, a saving throw, or a caster level check made to overcome a creature's spell resistance. When the odds breaker spends 1 luck point to improve a d20 roll, add 1d6 to the d20 roll to help meet or exceed the target number. The player can declare the use of 1 luck point after the d20 is rolled, but she must do so before the GM reveals the result of the roll. Luck points may not be used if the odds breaker is taking 10 or 20.

The odds breaker can only spend 1 luck point per round. For example, if she spends a point to improve an attack roll, she cannot spend another one later in the same round to improve a saving throw.

Whenever the odds breaker gains a level she also gains more luck points, regardless of whether or not she chooses to take that level in this prestige class. Every time the odds breaker goes up a level, the number of luck points in her pool increases by 5 + half her odds breaker class level (round down). So even if the odds breaker never takes another level in this prestige class, she will gain 7 luck points every time her character level increases.

Doom (Sp): At 5th level, the odds breaker improves her ability to cause bad fortune to befall her opponents.

As a move action, the odds breaker chooses one creature that is within 150 ft. (she must be able to see the creature or otherwise definitively identify its exact location). The creature suffers a -4 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. This penalty does not stack with that caused by the odds breaker's snake bit ability. The effect lasts for a number of minutes equal to the odds breaker's class level. A creature may only be targeted by one doom effect at a time.

The odds breaker may use this ability a number of times per day equal to half her class level.

Reflect Spells (Su): At 7th level, the odds breaker becomes so lucky that spells and spell-like effects targeted on her turn back upon the original caster. This turns only spells that have the odds breaker as the target. Effect and area spells are not affected. Reflect spells also does not stop touch range spells.

This ability functions identically to the spell turning spell, except that the number of levels affected is equal to the odds breaker's class level. The number of levels resets at its maximum amount whenever the odds breaker gains the benefit of natural healing (usually after 8 hours of sleep).

If the odds breaker is aware that someone has made her the target of a spell, she may choose to allow the spell to bypass her reflect spells effect. The spell affects her normally and the number of levels she can reflect for the remainder of the day is unchanged.

Pariah (Sp): At 8th level, the odds breaker improves her ability to cause bad fortune to befall her opponents.

As a move action, the odds breaker chooses one creature that is within 200 ft. (she must be able to see the creature or otherwise definitively identify its exact location). The creature suffers a -6 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. This penalty does not stack with those caused by the odds breaker's snake bit or doom abilities. The effect lasts for a number of minutes equal to the odds breaker's class level. A creature may only be targeted by on pariah effect at a time.

The odds breaker may use this ability twice per day.

God Touched (Su): At 10th level, the odds breaker is able to summon up good fortune at a moment's notice.

Once per day, after rolling a saving throw but before the GM announces the result, the odds breaker can improve the result by +5. This ability may be used in combination with her other die-affecting abilities, such as Good Fortune and luck points.

Destiny Boudreau

Destiny Boudreau is the daughter of diplomats who each could trace their bloodlines back to noble houses (one human, the other elf). While her parents maintained an elegant household and entertained the crème de la crème of elf and human high society, Destiny could see that the family was not fully accepted by either group. And, while the adult world was subtle in its disparagement, the children were much more obvious and cruel. Her parents told her to maintain her dignity, to be above the pettiness of her so-called friends. But such nobility is difficult for a child.

As she grew, Destiny became quite adept at subtly striking back at her tormentors--stealing an item from one, then sneaking into the home of another and planting the evidence where the parents were sure to find it. Although her acts clearly crossed the line of legality, Destiny never did so for monetary or social gain--merely for personal entertainment. And since she never actually profited from any of the incidents, no one ever suspected her hand in them.

Her family has enough money that Destiny does not have to actually work now that she has come of age. However, she has developed a taste for adventure and mischief and has moved on to performing burglary, petty theft, and stylish vandalism to embarrass individuals and organizations she dislikes (or to indirectly help those she favors). Along the way, though, Destiny stopped actually working on refining her craft. She was finding that her capers were too easy, and lacked any real chance of getting caught, which really was the fun of it all. She knows that even if she gets caught, her parents will be able to get her out of any trouble with the police.

Recently, she has been taking on tougher and tougher assignments with less and less preparation, trusting her good luck to carry her through.

Destiny Boudreau: Half-elf female Rog 8/Odds Breaker 5; CR 13; Medium humanoid; HD 13d6+13; hp 55; Init +9; Spd 30 ft.; AC 23 (touch 17, flat-footed 17); Base Atk +8/+3; Grp +9; Atk +16 melee (1d6+3, 19-20, +2 short sword) or +15 ranged (1d6+1/×3, +1 short bow); Full Atk +16/+11 melee (melee (1d6+3, 19-20, +2 short sword) or +15/10 ranged (1d6+1/×3, +1 short bow); SA --; SQ aid, doom, evasion, improved good fortune, improved uncanny dodge, luck poionts, snake bit, sneak attack +4d6, trapfinding, trap sense +3, uncanny dodge; AL CG; SV Fort +4, Ref +16, Will +3; Str 12, Dex 22, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 11, Cha 16.

Skills and Feats: Balance +8, Bluff +19, Diplomacy +19, Escape Artist +24, Gather Information +19, Hide +19, Jump +12, Move Silently +19, Spot +16, Tumble +17, Use Magic Device +19;Agile, Dodge, Good Fortune, Improved Initiative, Weapon Finesse (short sword), Stealthy.

Equipment: +2 buckler, amulet of natural armor +1, bracers of armor +2, ring of protection +1, +2 short sword, +1 short bow, gloves of Dexterity +2, ring of health +2, 2,000 gp.

OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a

The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc ("Wizards"). All Rights Reserved.

1. Definitions: (a) "Contributors" means the copyright and/or trademark owners who have contributed Open Game Content; (b) "Derivative Material" means copyrighted material including derivative works and translations (including into other computer languages), potation, modification, correction, addition, extension, upgrade, improvement, compilation, abridgment or other form in which an existing work may be recast, transformed or adapted; (c) "Distribute" means to reproduce, license, rent, lease, sell, broadcast, publicly display, transmit or otherwise distribute; (d) "Open Game Content" means the game mechanic and includes the methods, procedures, processes and routines to the extent such content does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art and any additional content clearly identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means any work covered by this License, including translations and derivative works under copyright law, but specifically excludes Product Identity. (e) "Product Identity" means product and product line names, logos and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts; creatures characters; stories, storylines, plots, thematic elements, dialogue, incidents, language, artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, likenesses, formats, poses, concepts, themes and graphic, photographic and other visual or audio representations; names and descriptions of characters, spells, enchantments, personalities, teams, personas, likenesses and special abilities; places, locations, environments, creatures, equipment, magical or supernatural abilities or effects, logos, symbols, or graphic designs; and any other trademark or registered trademark clearly identified as Product identity by the owner of the Product Identity, and which specifically excludes the Open Game Content; (f) "Trademark" means the logos, names, mark, sign, motto, designs that are used by a Contributor to identify itself or its products or the associated products contributed to the Open Game License by the Contributor (g) "Use", "Used" or "Using" means to use, Distribute, copy, edit, format, modify, translate and otherwise create Derivative Material of Open Game Content. (h) "You" or "Your" means the licensee in terms of this agreement.

2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a notice indicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of this License. You must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content that you Use. No terms may be added to or subtracted from this License except as described by the License itself. No other terms or conditions may be applied to any Open Game Content distributed using this License.

3. Offer and Acceptance: By Using the Open Game Content You indicate Your acceptance of the terms of this License.

4. Grant and Consideration: In consideration for agreeing to use this License, the Contributors grant You a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license with the exact terms of this License to Use, the Open Game Content.

5. Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing original material as Open Game Content, You represent that Your Contributions are Your original creation and/or You have sufficient rights to grant the rights conveyed by this License.

6. Notice of License Copyright: You must update the COPYRIGHT NOTICE portion of this License to include the exact text of the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any Open Game Content You are copying, modifying or distributing, and You must add the title, the copyright date, and the copyright holder's name to the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any original Open Game Content you Distribute.

7. Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity, including as an indication as to compatibility, except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of each element of that Product Identity. You agree not to indicate compatibility or co-adaptability with any Trademark or Registered Trademark in conjunction with a work containing Open Game Content except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of such Trademark or Registered Trademark. The use of any Product Identity in Open Game Content does not constitute a challenge to the ownership of that Product Identity. The owner of any Product Identity used in Open Game Content shall retain all rights, title and interest in and to that Product Identity.

8. Identification: If you distribute Open Game Content You must clearly indicate which portions of the work that you are distributing are Open Game Content.

9. Updating the License: Wizards or its designated Agents may publish updated versions of this License. You may use any authorized version of this License to copy, modify and distribute any Open Game Content originally distributed under any version of this License.

10. Copy of this License: You MUST include a copy of this License with every copy of the Open Game Content You Distribute.

11. Use of Contributor Credits: You may not market or advertise the Open Game Content using the name of any Contributor unless You have written permission from the Contributor to do so.

12. Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to comply with any of the terms of this License with respect to some or all of the Open Game Content due to statute, judicial order, or governmental regulation then You may not Use any Open Game Material so affected.

13. Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with all terms herein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days of becoming aware of the breach. All sublicenses shall survive the termination of this License.

14. Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable, such provision shall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable.

15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Open Game License v 1.0 Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

 

System Reference Document Copyright 2000-2003, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Rich Baker, Andy Collins, David Noonan, Rich Redman, Bruce R. Cordell, John D. Rateliff, Thomas Reid, James Wyatt, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.

 

Odds Breaker Copyright 2004, The Game Mechanics, Inc.; Author Stan!.