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:

1. Skeleton 1d6 +1 0xp

2. Fossil Footman 2d6 2,200xp

3. Grave Guard 3d6 4,400xp

4. Skeleton Warrior 4d6 +2 8,800xp

5. Crypt Keeper 5d6 17,000xp

6. Ossuary Outrider 6d6 35,000xp

7. Cadaver Calviler 7d6 70,000xp

8. 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