Bloodcarver

Requirements

Skills: Concentration (12 ranks)

Spellcasting: The ability to cast chaos magic spells.

Summary

Bloodcarvers are all about damaging themselves in order to make casting their chaotic magic more doable, they can also learn to ignore pain and gain armor against other sources of damage. They eventually can increase the efficacy of their bloodcarving in order to staunch the bleeding and do it less in order to gain the same effect. Players who are squeamish around self-harm should probably stay away from this class just because of the themes of it, so I'd check with other players if playing this class won't upset anyone before you use it at the table.

Role: Spell DPS

Characteristics: Chaos Mages who damage themselves to cast more effectively

Source: Encyclopedia Arcane: Chaos Magic

Game Rule Information

The Bloodcarver has the following game statistics.

Abilities: Charisma for casting, Constitution for concentration and HP, Dexterity to avoid getting hit in combat

Alignment: Any Chaotic

Hit Die: d4

Starting Gold: N/A

Class Skills

The Bloodcarver's class skills are Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Listen (Wis)Search (Int), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis), and Wilderness Lore (Wis).

Skill Points at 1st Level: (2 + Int modifier) × 4

Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int modifier

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the Bloodcarver.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Bloodcarver is proficient with whatever they were already proficient with.

Bloodletting Su: At 1st level the bloodcarver learns how to release chaotic energies by spilling their own blood. Providing a quick route for the chaos to leave makes it easier for the chaos mage to fashion their spells, but the damage caused to their body can be quite horrific. Using bloodletting, every 2 hit points of damage the bloodcarver causes themself whilst casting a spell allows a +1 circumstance bonus to the Casting check. Bloodletting allows the chaos mage to control how much damage they cause themself - there is no danger of inadvertently causing more or less damage than desired when using this ability.

Ignore Pain Ex: Bloodcarvers learn to distance themselves from their pain to protect themselves from the horrors they inflict upon their own bodies. At 2nd level the bloodcarver is so resistant to pain that he is able to maintain his concentration even if they suffer damage from an attack. This ability grants the bloodcarver the Combat Casting feat. If they already possess this feat, they double bonus gained from it.

Damage Reduction Ex: Bloodcarvers are good at controlling their pain, and as such, they are able to ignore a portion of the damage they suffer from attacks. At 3rd level the Bloodcarver gains DR 1/-.

Armour of Scars Ex: Bloodcarvers soon end up hacking their flesh with a great degree of regularity. By 4th level the damage done to the chaos mage has left its mark in the form of a crisscross pattern of thick scar tissue covering most of the mage's available skin. The scarring is so severe the character gains protection from the thickened flesh - the bloodcarver receives a +1 natural armor bonus to their AC.

Bloodcarving Ex: At 5th level the chaos mage has perfected the art of releasing chaos through pain and blood. This ability allows the chaos mage to carve their flesh more precisely, so less damage needs to be dealt to themselves to achieve the desired result. Using bloodcarving for every point of damage the bloodcarver causes to themselves whilst casting a spell, they gain a +1 circumstance bonus to their casting check. Bloodcarving allows the chaos mage to carefully control how much damage they cause themself - there is no danger of inadvertently causing more or less damage than desired when using this ability.

Table 1-1: Bloodcarver Progression

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special
1st	+1	+2	+0	+2	Bloodletting
2nd	+1	+3	+0	+3	Ignore Pain
3rd	+2	+3	+1	+3	Damage Reduction
4th	+2	+4	+1	+4	Armour of Scars
5th	+3	+4	+2	+4	Bloodcarving