Deus ex Machina (3.5e NPC Class)

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Author: Havvy (talk) Co-Authors: ScorchedOne, Jota, Ganteka Future Date Created: Status: Free to Edit Editing: Everything

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When the DM needs a character that can randomly enter the scene and save the day, the Deus ex Machina is there for it.

The name literally translates to God of the Machine, and is a plot device for a new and random element that solves all problems. For example, say the players accidentally fell through a crack in the Abyss to a lower level.

It should be noted that if you are a serious roleplayer, you will be disgusted at the idea of this creature making an appearance in your campaign. This should be the Dungeon Master's last resort.

Deus ex Machina

Abilities: This character is meant to come in and save the day randomly. Since they do not cast spells, either go with strength, constitution, and dexterity; or go with charisma depending on whether or not she will save from battle or from negotiations. Seeing as only the DM can make them, and their role, having all 18s is allowed. Heck, if you are going to fudge rolls, ability scores do not matter. All in all, no class ability of a Deus ex Machina relies upon any ability score.

Races: Any

Alignment: Any

Starting Age: Any

Table: The Deus ex Machina

Hit Die: d12

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Saving Throws			Special
		Fort	Ref	Will
1st	+1	+2	+2	+2	Dramatic Reveal 1/day, Right Place, Right Time
2nd	+2	+3	+3	+3	Wealth of Knowledge
3rd	+3	+3	+3	+3	Bonus Feat
4th	+4	+4	+4	+4	Awkward Silence 1/eight hours
5th	+5	+4	+4	+4	Dramatic Reveal 1/hour
6th	+6/+1	+5	+5	+5	Deep Pockets
7th	+7/+2	+5	+5	+5	Improved Evasion
8th	+8/+3	+6	+6	+6
9th	+9/+4	+6	+6	+6	Awkward Silence 1/hour
10th	+10/+5	+7	+7	+7	Dramatic Reveal 1/ten minutes
11th	+11/+6/+1	+7	+7	+7	Ignore Gravity
12th	+12/+7/+2	+8	+8	+8	Forceful Gaze
13th	+13/+8/+3	+8	+8	+8	Eyes on the Back of My Head
14th	+14/+9/+4	+9	+9	+9
15th	+15/+10/+5	+9	+9	+9	Dramatic Reveal 1/minute
16th	+16/+11/+6/+1	+10	+10	+10	Third Person Omniscient
17th	+17/+12/+7/+2	+10	+10	+10	Awkward Stance
18th	+18/+13/+8/+3	+11	+11	+11	Awkward Silence 1/ten minutes
19th	+19/+14/+9/+4	+11	+11	+11	Wish 1/day
20th	+20/+15/+10/+5	+12	+12	+12	Dramatic Reveal at will
Class Skills (8 + Int modifier per level, ×4 at 1st level) Appraise (Int), Autohypnosis (Wis), Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Control Shape (Wis), Craft (Int), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disable Device (Int), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Forgery (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Hide (Dex), Iaijutsu Focus (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (Int), Listen (Wis), Martial Lore (Int), Move Silently (Dex), Open Lock (Dex), Perform (Cha), Psicraft (Int), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Speak Language (None), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), Swim (Str), Truespeak (Int), Tumble (Dex), Use Magic Device (Cha), Use Psionic Device (Cha), Use Rope (Dex).

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Deus ex Machina.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A dues ex machina is proficient with all weapons and armors, including exotic weapons.

Dramatic Reveal (Ex): At 1st level, a Deus ex Machina may use Dramatic Reveal once per day. When two or more creatures are arguing over anything, she may, as a free action, join the argument with a new fact that ends the argument and changes the attitude of the creatures towards each other to helpful.

At fifth level, this changes to being usable once per hour. At tenth level, this changes to being usable once every ten minutes. At fifteenth level, this changes to being usable once per minute, and at twentieth level, this may be used at will, but no more than once per round.

Right Place, Right Time (Sp): At 1st level, a Deus ex Machina may teleport at will. There is no possibility of going to an incorrect location, and she may take any amount of living creatures and their attended objects as long as all objects and creatures are touching. Structures cannot be teleported in this fashion.

Wealth of Knowledge (Ex): A Deus ex Machina gains an extraordinary bonus to knowledge checks equal to one half her class level.

Bonus Feat (Ex): At 3rd level, a Deus ex Machina gains a bonus feat. She needs not meet the prerequisites for this feat. At the start of each day, she can choose to change her bonus feat to any other feat. This feat cannot be epic.

Awkward Silence (Su): At 4th level, a Deus ex Machina can make a statement so awkward, it silences all creatures within hearing distance of the Deus ex Machina. Creatures affected must make a will save or become stunned for 1 round per 1/2 class level of the Deus ex Machina. This is a language-dependent, mind-affecting ability. Those immune to mind-affecting abilities are also immune to to Awkward Silence. Those who do not understand language are immune to Awkward Silence. She may use this ability once every 8 hours. This changes to once per hour at 9th level, and finally to once per ten minutes at 18th level.

Deep Pockets (Ex): At sixth level, the foresight of a Deus ex Machina becomes so powerful that she will always have that mundane or alchemical item the party seems to be lacking. As a standard action, once per round, she may pull out one mundane or alchemical item of size small or smaller.

Improved Evasion (Ex): This ability works like evasion, except that while the Deus ex Machina still takes no damage on a successful Reflex saving throw against attacks, she henceforth takes only half damage on a failed save. A helpless Deus ex Machina does not gain the benefit of improved evasion. A Deus ex Machina gains this benefit at seventh level.

Ignore Gravity (Su): At eleventh level, a Deus ex Machina may ignore gravity in all shapes and forms. This also includes pressure damage. If the Deus ex Machina needs to actually move, and not teleport, this is how it moves. A Deus ex Machina can hover over land, and does not take movement penalties for difficult terrain.

Forceful Gaze (Su): At twelfth level, a Deus ex Machina need not say anything awkward, but must merely look upon the creature. A Forceful Gaze acts as an Awkward Stare, except that a Forceful Gaze is not language-dependent, occurs over all that the Deus ex Machina sees, and suppresses any force effects for one hour. Using Forceful Gaze recharges on the same system as Awkward Silence.

Eyes on the Back of My Head (Ex): At thirteenth level, a Deus ex Machina can see in all directions from her body. She can no longer be flanked, and gains a +2 racial bonus to Spot checks.

Awkward Stance (Su): At seventeenth level, a Deus ex Machina can stand so awkwardly, it produces the effect of Awkward Silence except that it is neither language-dependent nor mind-affecting. Using this is like using Awkward Silence for recharge purposes.

Third Person Omniscient (Ex): A Deus ex Machina does not have to worry about random knowledge checks at level 16. She may only take 20 on knowledge checks.

Wish (Sp): Once per day, a Deus ex Machina can cast Wish with a caster level equal to her Deus ex Machina level.

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