Gunslinger - Spiritual Powers

Quick Links: Tier 1 | Tier 2

Gunslingers are the law enforcers of Gaianarian civilization. While the cities have (mostly) become places of relative safety, the spans in-between are infested with cut-throats, highwaymen, mutant monsters, and the walking dead. And so the Gunslingers stand for law, defending friend and stranger alike from the lawless. While Gunslingers do not have the "Chosen Weapon" power that give an edge to Cavaliers, Barbarians, Paladins, and Protectors, Gunslingers instead have two Tiers of supernatural powers instead of only one. For access to Tier 2, a Gunslinger must be 6th level or higher.

Expel45 SP | Drives away 1 foe for 1 hour/level

Expel

Concentration: 2 segments

Spirit Cost: 45 points

Range: 5// line of sight

Area of Effect: 1 person or creature

Duration: One hour per level

Classification: Sleep/Charm

Sometimes, merely removing or humiliating a foe is a better answer than simply unleashing a hail of bullets. To that end, the Gunslinger calls upon the forces of law in order to compel a selected foe to retreat from the Gunslinger at best possible speed. If the foe fails a Save versus Sleep/Charm, the person (or creature) will feel psychologically compelled to travel away from the Gunslinger by any means at hand (running, horseback, sailboat, etc.) The affected creature will still avoid obvious hazards like quicksand, open flame, and deep water. However, the target's compulsion to retreat must be obeyed. A successful Dispel Magic or similar spell will cancel the Gunslinger's directive.

The target's saving throw modifier depends on what kind of creature it is.

Creature Type	Target's Saving Throw Modifier
Humanoid (Elf, Human, Dwarf, etc.) of Saintly, Lawful, or Despotic	+4
Humanoid - Benevolent, Apathetic, or Malevolent	+0
Humanoid - Heroic, Chaotic, or Satanic	-2
Constructs - Ordinary	Immune
Construct - Living	+6
Undead, Sentient - Saintly, Lawful, or Despotic	+2
Undead, Sentient - all other alignments	-4
Undead, non-sentient, any alignment	-6
Animal	-2
Plant (presumably one capable of moving)	-4
Spirit or Elemental - Saintly, Lawful, or Despotic	+4
Spirit or Elemental - all other alignments	+0

Changes from the printed (book) version: The saving throw modifiers based on target creature type are now listed. Affected enemies now make a reasonable, informed retreat at best speed instead of mindlessly wandering away.

Law's Shelter30 SP | Creates a safe environment for 1 hour per level

Law's Shelter

Concentration: 1 round

Spirit Cost: 30 points

Range: Internal to the Gunslinger

Area of Effect: 6// spherical region

Duration: One hour per level

Classification: Protection

By calling upon the forces of law, the Gunslinger can impose his/her will upon the immediate environment. While this Discipline is in effect, the air within the affected region is held at 70 degrees and 30% humidity with zero wind. The ground will remain a comfortable temperature (not too nor or cold) and will remain dry (and not wet or muddy). The sphere will deflect rain and snow. Toxins wafting from outside the protected sphere are held at bay. Powers cast by foes of Heroic, Chaotic, or Satanic alignment incur a -2 penalty to their invocation checks if cast within this Discipline's area of effect.

Changes from the printed (book) version: This Discipline lasts for hours instead of rounds; it no longer additionally confers Impose Law; chaotic powers are not banned, but there chaotic foes still have penalties to cast spells. This Discipline has been renamed "Law's Shelter" from "Impose Structure".

Mark of Law30 SP | Cursed a lawbreaker Special duration.

Mark of Law

Concentration: 10 rounds

Spirit Cost: 30 points

Range: Touch

Area of Effect: One creature

Duration: Special

Classification: Benedictions

As all Gunslingers know, there are times when a criminal cannot be rehabilitated and must be forced to act in an orderly and lawful manner for the good of society. This power offers a solution to stop even the most troublesome people

.
When invoking this power, the Gunslinger draws a series of runes upon the lawbreaker’s forehead and wrists. Because it takes 10 minutes to complete the runes using ink blessed by clergy of Ordered alignment (Saintly, Lawful, or Despotic) it is usually only used in non-combat situations on those who are unable to resist (such as a criminal in shackles.)

Once the runes are completed, the Gunslinger states the illegal behavior that would trigger the power of the Mark. When activated, the Mark activates and the victim is struck with a curse of the Gunslinger’s choice – the GM has the final decision on the acceptability of all suggested curses. But certainly a criminal could be struck blind, deaf, or mute; a criminal could lose 1d6 points in a primary attribute. A Gunslinger could also be creative in the curse, so long as the GM agrees.

The triggering behavior must be both lawful and just. For example, a criminal convicted of stealing would have his Mark triggered if he committed robbery, but it would not trigger if the criminal became so impoverished that he had to steal food to survive. A murderer’s Mark would trigger if she killed in cold blood, but if she were conscripted in wartime and killed on the battlefield, the Mark would not trigger.

The Mark of Law or its resulting curse can only be removed by the following conditions:

Any Gunslinger of a level higher than the one who bestowed the Mark upon the target,
Any Priest or Shaman using a spell such as Dispel Magic or Remove Curse (provided the target has reformed his ways and is truly repentant.)
The original Gunslinger can always remove the Mark.

This Discipline is also reversible as a means of undoing a Ranger's "Foe Mark" or a Necromancer's "Spiritual Marker". If used for this purpose, the Gunslinger functions at -1 and -2 respectively. The Discipline costs 30 spiritual points to cast, whether imposing or removing a Mark (or Mark-like curse). This Discipline could theoretically be used to remove other kinds of curses as well. The modifier for success is determined by the Game Master.

Changes from the printed (book) version: This Discipline could theoretically be used in combat (although it is unlikely). This Discipline has the possibility of removing curses imposed by other character classes.

Survive Fasting5 SP | Survive without food and water Special duration.

Survive Fasting

Concentration: 1 hour

Spirit Cost: 5 SP initially, then 2 SP/day overhead

Range: Internal to the Gunslinger

Area of Effect: The Gunslinger

Duration: Special

Classification: Defense

In times of dire need, the Gunslinger is able to ward off the effects of starvation and dehydration by calling upon this discipline. Initially, this ability costs 5 spiritual points to invoke and will work continuously until the Gunslinger is once again able to obtain proper sustenance. Each day that survive fasting is operative, the Gunslinger incurs a 5 spirit point overhead for keeping the power active, plus an additional 2 spirit points (cumulative) each successive day the power is active. If the Gunslinger is without nutrition so long that the spirit point overhead exceeds his spirit point potential, then the power ends and the Gunslinger begins starving like anyone else would without food. When power ends, the Gunslinger may not call upon it until he has been well fed for twice as many days as he had fasted.

Telepathic Contact15 SP | Can commune telepathically for 1 round/level

Telepathic Contact

Concentration: 2 segments

Spirit Cost: 15 points

Range: 5// per level

Area of Effect: 1 person per three levels

Duration: 1 round per level

Classification: Sleep/Charm

This Discipline allows the Gunslinger to communicate telepathically with an ally (or allies). For this power to work, the recipient of the communication must have first granted permission for that type of contact. Permission need only be given once (although the recipient can revoke permission at any time). This Discipline does not give the Gunslinger the ability to read minds. It also does not give the Gunslinger the ability to understand languages that he/she does not already know. It does, however, allow the Gunslinger to communicate across a certain distance without having to actually speak out loud. The Gunslinger and recipient hear each other psychically in the equivalent of the spoken word. This power can span open air, water, wood, stone, and lighter metals. It is blocked by iron, lead, and black basalt.

The distance by which this Discipline reaches depends on the alignment of the recipient:

Saintly/Lawful/Despotic: Range x1.5
Benevolent/Apathetic/Malevolent: Range x1.0
Heroic/Chaotic/Satanic: Range x0.5
Living Constructs (any alignment): Range x0.25
Ordinary Constructs: Non-functional

Changes from the printed (book) version: Alignment/Range multipliers; Prior permission is now required prior to telepathic contact.

Call Upon Honor5 SP | Boosts chance of success for one action. Instantaneous.

Call Upon Honor

Concentration: 1 segment

Spirit Cost: 5 points

Range: Internal to the Gunslinger

Area of Effect: The Gunslinger

Duration: One action

Classification: Benedictions

The Gunslinger is able to call upon the memory of his teachers, the discipline of his training, and the might of his/her honor in order to focus upon the task at hand. To that end, the Gunslinger receives a bonus to his/her next action as follows:

Levels 6-10: +2 (d20) or +10% (percentiles)
Levels 11-15: +3 (d20) or +15% (percentiles)
Levels 16-19: +4 (d20) or +20% (percentiles)
Levels 20+: +5 (d20) or +25% (percentiles)

Changes from the printed (book) version: This power scales with level increases. This Discipline has been renamed "Call Upon Honor" from "Way of Honor".

Word of Law10 SP | Stuns a foe for 1 round/level.

Word of Law

Tier: Second

Concentration: 5 segments

Spirit Cost: 10 points

Range: 1// per level (Line of Sight)

Duration: 1 round per level

Area of Effect: 1 target

Classification: Combat

The Gunslinger's words can be used to temporarily stun a chosen target. In law enforcement, this Discipline is often used to capture a fleeing suspect so that he/she can be taken into custody. If the target fails a Save versus Magical Weapon, he/she is paralyzed for one round per level of the Gunslinger. The target does not lose consciousness, but he/she is unable to move, fight, or cast spells. The target does retain the power of speech (but not for spellcasting).

Like many other Gunslinger disciplines, the power yield depends on the alignment and creature type of the target.

Creature Type	Power Modifier
Humanoid (Elf, Human, Dwarf, etc.) of Saintly, Lawful, or Despotic	+4 to target save. Duration halved.
Humanoid - Benevolent, Apathetic, or Malevolent	No modifiers.
Humanoid - Heroic, Chaotic, or Satanic	-2 to target save. Effect lasts an extra round.
Constructs - Ordinary	Immune.
Construct - Living	+6 to target save. Duration halved.
Undead, Sentient - Saintly, Lawful, or Despotic	+2 to target save. Standard duration.
Undead, Sentient - all other alignments	-4 to target save. Effect lasts an extra round.
Undead, non-sentient, any alignment	-6 to target save. Double duration
Animal	-2 to target save. Duration lasts 1.5x.
Plant (presumably one capable of moving)	-4 to target save. Double duration.
Spirit or Elemental - Saintly, Lawful, or Despotic	+4 to target save. Duration halved
Spirit or Elemental - all other alignments	+0 to target save. Standard duration

Changes from the printed (book) version: This Discipline now costs 10 SP. The duration scales with the Gunslinger's level, as does the range. The power yield is modified for alignment and creature type.

Things to Consider

Gunslinger spiritual powers require a Faith check and sufficient Spiritual Points.
Gunslingers have heightened spiritual perception compared to other fighter types, enabling them to detect and resist both spiritual powers and illusions.
High Faith also unlocks the Gunslinger's Granted Powers.
A Gunslinger projects an aura of Order which is similar in concept to a Cavalier's Sphere of Bravery. The Gunslinger's aura, however, grants a Saving Throw bonus to allies of Ordered alignment (Saintly, Lawful, and Despotic).
Gunslingers do not have the ability to directly affect Undead by acts of faith. Certain Disciplines do, however have some effect against the walking dead.