Nymph Class (Gorgon Crawl Classics)

The Nymph has been the hardest class for me to put together for Gorgon Crawl Classics. It started off as a simple reskin of the Elf, a kinda-fighty spellcaster. I quickly realized that the Cleric spell list fit the “semi-divine nature spirit” concept better than the Wizard spells did, so it changed into an Elf with Cleric spells. But the Cleric spells, on average, lack the “oomph” of Wizard spells. So without access to Turn Unholy, Lay on Hands, and Divine Intervention, the Nymph was just kind of a less-goods Cleric (albeit, with slightly better saves).

I know “balance” isn’t really a thing in Dungeon Crawl Classics, but I needed reasons to play a nymph (other than simple cool factor), especially since level-0 isn’t a thing in GCC, and players can choose their class. What I came up with was giving her access to a handful of wizard spells, as well as some benefits when she’s in her native environments. I’m pretty happy with how the Nymph sits right now, but there are sure to be a few more tweaks. At some point I need to write a nymph-specific Disapproval table.

Also, in my research I found out that there are Nymphs native to the Underworld—Lampads, Persephone’s torchbearers. So yeah, goth nymphs—pretty cool.

Nymph (Class)

All-female nature spirits. 

Hit Points: 1d6 per level

Weapon Training: dagger, javelin, bow, short sword, staff, spear

Alignment: Usually neutral. Chaotic nymphs are called “Maenads.”

Ageless: Do not age and are immune to all supernatural aging. 

Bonded to Nature: Choose the environment to which your Nymph is bonded. This choice determines what kind of Nymph you are and will effect some of your special abilities. This choice cannot be changed, baring exceptional circumstances.

• Forest: Dryads
• Mountains and grottos: Oreads
• Streams and lakes: Nereids
• Sea: Naiads
• Underworld and dungeons: Lampads

Gifts of Nature:

• Dryad: Leaves no trace or path when walking through forest or underbrush. Unimpeded by woodland travel.
• Oread: Immune to natural cold. Unimpeded by mountain travel.
• Nereid/Naiad: Can breathe underwater. Swim at their normal walking speed. 
• Lampad: 120’ Infravision

Grace: If unarmored and not using a shield, the Nymph can add her PER modifier to her AC.

Divine Nature: Thanks to their connection to nature and the gods, Nymphs are natural spellcasters. Nymph cast clerical spells, rolling 1d20+PER+LUCK+Level as their casting roll. Armor check penalties apply.

Due to their connection to the powers of the divine, Nymphs get to choose which spells they learn at each level, and do not have to depend on the whims of fate or the roll of the dice. All Nymphs start with the exclusive spell Nymphcraft (see below) and may choose a number of additional spells as indicated on their class table. This amount is further modified by their PER bonus.

Nymphs have access to all the spells from the Cleric's list. Additionally, Nymphs have access to several traditional wizard spells which they can select as known spells. Nymphs will tell you that wizards stole these spells from their ancient sisters. Nymphs cast these as Cleric spells. Failed rolls do not result in loss, failure, corruption, or any of these wizardly hazards, but accrue Disapproval as normal.

These spells are:

• Level 1: Animal Summoning, Charm Person, Sleep
• Level 2: Invisibility, Mirror Image
• Level 3: Consult Spirit, Planar Step
• Level 4: Polymorph
• Level 5: Mind Purge

Native Spellburn: While within their natural habitat, Nymphs can spellburn physical attributes to increase their spellcasting rolls, just like wizards do. They can only recover spellburn damage while within their natural habitat.

Level	Attack	Cirt/Table	Action Die	Known Spells + Nymphcraft	Max Spell Level	Ref	Fort	Will
1	+1	1d6/II	1d20	3	1	+1	+1	+1
2	+2	1d8/II	1d20	4	1	+1	+1	+1
3	+2	1d8/II	1d20	5	2	+1	+1	+2
4	+3	1d10/II	1d20	6	2	+2	+2	+2
5	+3	1d10/II	1d20+1d14	7	3	+2	+2	+3
6	+4	1d12/II	1d20+1d16	8	3	+2	+2	+4
7	+4	1d12/II	1d20+1d20	9	4	+3	+3	+4
8	+5	1d14/II	1d20+1d20	10	4	+3	+3	+5
9	+5	1d14/II	1d20+1d20	12	5	+4	+4	+5
10	+6	1d16/II	1d20+1d20+1d14	14	5	+4	+4	+6

Nymph Level Titles

1. Innocent

2. Pastoral

3. Pleiadian

4. Daemon

 

Nymphcraft Level: 1, Range: Varies, Duration: Varies, Casting Time: 1 Action, Save: Varies
General	Only Nymphs may learn this spell. The Nymph calls upon her divine connection to nature and bond to the land to perform a variety of magical effects. When successfully cast, the Nymph may choose any effect equal to her roll or below. When cast in the Nymph’s natural habitat, she gets a +1d bonus to the spellcasting roll.
Manifestation	See Below
Roll	Effect
1-11	Failure.
12-13	Generate 1 cubic foot of material per CL Dryad: Flowers and leaves Oreads: Stones and pebbles Nereid: Freshwater Naiad: Saltwater Lampad: Bone and ash
14-17	Encase the nymph in a protective layer of bark (dryad), stone (oread) shells (nereid/naiad), or bone (lampad). +4 AC for CL turns. 1d6 fumble and no check penalty. Does not stack with worn armor, except shields. Does not disrupt the Nymph's "Grace" ability.
18-19	Teleport from one tree (dryads), stone (oread), pool of water (nereid/naiad), or shadow (lampad), to another within 100’ x CL. The tree, stone, pool, or shadow must be big enough to theoretically contain the nymph.
20-23	Attack an enemy within 60’ with spears of wood (dryad), stone spikes (oread), ice knives (nereid), stinging jellyfish tendrils (naiad), or bone shards (lampad). 4d6 damage, reflex save for half damage.
24-27	One enemy within 60’ must make a reflex save or become bound by roots and vines (dryad), stone hands (oread), ice (neirid), seaweed (naiad), or iron shackles (lampad). Target cannot move or attack, but can break out with a STR roll with a DC equal to the casting roll. Bindings are AC 9 and have hit points equal to the casting roll.
28-29	Touched, willing ally falls into a deep sleep for 1 hour. When they awake they heal 2d6+CL hp.
30-31	Nymph summons a guardian spirit that protects the nymph and follows her orders for CL turns or until destroyed.  Guardian Spirit: Init +4; Atk Slam +4 (2d4); AC 16; HD 4d8; MV 30’; Act 1d20 or 2d16; SV Fort +4, Ref +3; Will +5; AL N; SP: See below. *Wood spirit (Dryad): Immune to piercing damage *Rock spirit (Oread): Immune to electricity, ½ damage from slashing weapons *Water spirit (Nereid/Naiad): Immune to bludgeoning damage, ½ damage from cold. *Underworld Spirit (Lampad): Immune to cold and poison.
32+	Target enemy within 120’ must make Fort save or transform into a tree (dryad), pillar of stone (oread), fountain (neirid), coral statue (naiad), or stone memorial (lampad) for CL days.