A BONE TO PICK
Skeleton As BX Class
Preamble: For reasons, I realized I might need to allow players to be Skeleton PCs. I’ve seen undead classes before that march from skeleton (1HD) to vampire (8-9HD), but I thought it might be good just to have the PC remain skeleton-oriented, hence ending this in the level title of death knight. But this class could be good for botched resurrections, cursed items, or angry gods. And no, everyone can’t dual-class as a skeleton just because they have one.
The Skeleton
Requirement: CON and CHA of 8 or less or PC has risen from the grave
Prime Requisite: STR
Hit Dice: d6
Maximum Level: 8
Weapons & Armor: All
Alignment: Chaotic
Languages: As those in life
To-hit & Save: as BX Fighter
1st: +0 & 12/13/14/15/16
4th: +2 & 10/11/12/13/14
8th: +5 & 8/9/10/11/12
Level:
Skeleton 1d6 +1 0xp
Fossil Footman 2d6 2,200xp
Grave Guard 3d6 4,400xp
Skeleton Warrior 4d6 +2 8,800xp
Crypt Keeper 5d6 17,000xp
Ossuary Outrider 6d6 35,000xp
Cadaver Calviler 7d6 70,000xp
Death Knight 8d6 +4 140,000xp
Starting Equipment:
Burial Shroud (AC 10), Death Mask, Dried Roses, Hourglass, Shield (AC +1), 1d6 dmg Weapon
Special Abilities:
Undead: Infravision, Move silently until the first attack, Treat as “asterisk undead” for spells and effects (i.e. turn undead, poison, sleep ect)
Fear of the Grave: At 4th level, -1 to enemy morale; At 8th level, cast fear 3x/day
Memento mori: Cannot be resurrected nor healed by magic; all reaction rolls are 1d6; cannot hire mortal hirelings, henchmen, mercenaries, or retainers
Stronghold:
At anytime a skeleton wishes (and they have a magic weapon), they may take over the dungeon they were killed in or rose from, claiming it as a stronghold after defeating all inhabitants. A stronghold attracts:
Stronghold Lieutenants (roll 1d6): 1-3. Chaotic fighter (level 4+1d4) 4-6. 1d6 Chaotic clerics (level 2 +1d4 each)
Stronghold Guard: 3d6 x10 1HD soldiers (75% skeletons and 25% will be chaotic clerics)
If there are 3+ levels, Stronghold Residents (roll 1d6, assume number as lair of monster type): 1. Werewolves 2. Ghoul Salon (2d8+5) 3. Nightmares 4. Mummies 5. Spectres 6. Vampires
Being so enamored with the very cool class titles I got as part of Secret Santicorn 2025, I thought I would try a few here.
Meat On Them Bones: Optional Titles for Skeleton Class
Minor Relequary Saint
Demonstrate a notable act of piety to the Church
Recover an important religious relic
Observe all taboos of a religion to shift alignment to lawful
Gelatin Skeleton
Coat yourself in a potion of invulnerability
Be engulfed by a gelatinous cube
Make an EGO check to overpower the cube (gaining a geletin coating)
The Yellow King
Obtain a 500gp crown (or equivalent in grave goods), mask, & costume
Be colonized by yellow mould
Kill everyone at a costume ball or party





Awesome! I love the taking over a dungeon as a stronghold.
I'm saving this post for future reference.
This is amazing. Love the idea of taking over dungeon as a stronghold.