Conversions: The Mahatma prestige class

Here's another conversion from the Book of Exalted Deeds, and one I longly struggled with. My first attempts at a Pathfinder version of the Apostle of Peace date back to 2011 in the Paizo forums! Now I think I'm finally satisfied (and by the way, this is also a way to make my intended type of priest!). Listed in the prerequisites there's also the Creed of Peace I created for Flaming Crab Games' Her Story book, and quoted previously in another post of this blog.

Mahatma (Prestige Class)

The Mahatma (“great soul”) class is the final goal for pacifist divine characters. Religious teachers and mystics, mahatmas are living examples of nonviolence.

Hit Die: d6

Requirements

To become a mahatma, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.

Alignment: Any good.

Feats: Virtuous Creed (Mercy), Virtuous Creed (Peace)

Skills: Diplomacy 5 ranks.

Spells: Able to cast 2nd-level divine spells.

Class Skills: The mahatma’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (all, Int), Linguistics (Int), Perception (Wis), Perform (oratory, Cha), Profession (Wis), and Sense Motive (Wis).

Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	Spells Per Day
1	+0	+0	+0	+1	Merciful channel, sacred soul	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
2	+1	+1	+1	+1	Mahatma domain, pacifying touch	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
3	+1	+1	+1	+2	Bonus feat, shield of goodness	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
4	+2	+1	+1	+2	Expert diplomat	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
5	+2	+2	+2	+3	Merciful weapon	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
6	+3	+2	+2	+3	Bonus feat	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
7	+3	+2	+2	+4	Pacifying aura	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
8	+4	+3	+3	+4	Censure evil	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
9	+4	+3	+3	+5	Bonus feat	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class
10	+5	+3	+3	+5	Avatar of peace	+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A mahatma gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor.

Spells per Day: At each level, a mahatma gains new spells per day as if she had also gained a level in a divine spellcasting class she belonged to before adding the prestige class. She does not, however, gain other benefits a character of that class would have gained, except for additional spells per day, spells known (if she is a spontaneous caster), and an increased effective level of spellcasting. If she had more than one divine spellcasting class before becoming a mahatma, she must decide to which class she adds the new level for the purpose of determining spells per day.

Merciful Channel (Su): At 1st level, a mahatma gains the power to heal with positive energy. This ability functions exactly like a cleric’s ability to channel positive energy to heal living creatures (but not to deal damage to undead), and counts as channel positive energy for the purposes of qualifying for feats or determining effects that rely on channel positive energy. A mahatma uses her class level as her effective cleric level when channeling. She can channel energy a number of times per day equal to 3 + her Charisma modifier. Mahatma levels stack with levels in any class that grants channel positive energy for the purpose of determining the number of hit points her channel energy ability heals (if any).

Sacred Soul: A mahatma’s class level stacks with her divine spellcasting class levels for determining the effect of her domain powers, oracle revelations, or shaman hexes. This does not grant additional abilities.

Mahatma Domain: At 2nd level, a mahatma adds all spells with the peace descriptor to her spell list (the spells with the peace descriptor are those who meet the requirements of the Peacemaker feat). If the mahatma is a spontaneous spellcaster, she must still select these spells as spells known in order to cast them.

Pacifying Touch (Su): Starting at 2nd level, a mahatma can spend one use of her merciful channel ability to pacify hostile or angry creatures. The effect is as if the mahatma had cast calm emotions on the target creature. The mahatma can affect only a single target with each use of the ability, and must succeed at a touch attack to do so. A touched creature can attempt a saving throw (DC = 10 + ½ the mahatma’s level + her Charisma bonus) to resist the effect. The pacifying touch can only dispel spells that incite negative or violent emotions in the target, such as fear or rage.

Bonus Feats: At 3rd level and every 3 levels thereafter, a mahatma gains a bonus feat in addition to those gained from normal advancement. These bonus feats must be chosen from the following: Blessed, Call Truce, Calm Disposition, Cry of Mercy, Pacify Animal, Peacemaker, Persuasive, Skill Focus (Diplomacy), Virtuous Creed, Voice of the Sybil. The mahatma must meet the prerequisites of the selected bonus feat.

Shield of Goodness (Ex): At 3rd level, the mahatma’s aura of sanctity is like a barrier defending her from attacks. The mahatma may add her Wisdom or Charisma modifier (her choice), instead of her Dexterity modifier, to her Armor Class and CMD. Any condition that would cause her to lose her Dexterity modifier to Armor Class instead causes the mahatma to lose her Wisdom or Charisma modifier to her Armor Class.

Expert Diplomat (Ex): The mahatma values most of all talking and persuading adversaries before resorting to fight. At 4th level, she adds a bonus equal to ½ her class level to all Diplomacy and Perform (oratory) checks.

Merciful Weapon (Su): At 5th level, every weapon the mahatma wields is treated as a merciful weapon.

Pacifying Aura (Su): At 7th level, the mahatma’s pacifying touch power extends all around her calming the emotions of everyone near. This aura has a radius of 20 feet, centered on the mahatma. Creatures within the aura must make a successful Will save (DC 10 + ½ the apostle of peace’s level + her Charisma modifier) or be affected as by the calm emotions spell. Creatures who leave the aura and reenter it receive new saving throws. A creature that makes a successful saving throw and remains in the aura is unaffected until it leaves the aura and reenters. The aura is a mind-affecting, supernatural compulsion and lasts 1 minute per level of the mahatma.

Censure Evil (Su): At 8th level, the mahatma can spend one use of her merciful channel ability to punish a creature with the evil subtype that is attacking her or her allies. The creature is transformed in a Tiny or Diminutive animal or vermin, as with baleful polymorph (DC = 10 + ½ the mahatma’s level + her Charisma bonus). This transformation lasts 1 round per mahatma level. Transforming another creature causes the first to immediately revert to normal. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Avatar of Peace (Su): At 10th level, a mahatma gains perfect sanctity and union with the utter forces of good. She is forever treated both as her original race and an outsider with the good subtype for all spell and effects. Unlike other outsiders, the mahatma can still be brought back from the dead if she dies. In addition, she receives a bonus on all saving throws equal to her Wisdom or Charisma modifier (her choice) and may cast summon monster IX (good only) as a spell-like ability once for day.