Survivalism
Table of Contents
spheres-of-guile.png
Spheres of Guile
$24.99
invention.jpg
Diamond Spheres: Invention & Ingenuity
$6.99

Operatives of the Survivalism sphere are able to use nature itself to their advantage, using parts of a slain beast to their fullest potential, or shifting earth and rock to disrupt those within it. In any case, these operatives hold great power with nature and its inhabitants.

Associated Skill: Survival.

When you gain the Survivalism sphere, you gain 5 ranks in Survival, plus 5 ranks per additional talent spent in the Survivalism sphere (maximum ranks equal to your Hit Dice). If you already have ranks in Survival, you may immediately retrain them.

Skill Leverage: You unlock skill leverage with Survival, in addition to either Knowledge (nature) or one of the following Craft skills: alchemy, jewelry, leather, taxidermy, or traps.

Package: When you first take the Survivalism sphere, choose one of the following packages: (dredge) or (harvest). You may take the Expanded Survivalism talent to gain an additional package.

You also acquire the Canny Survivor ability.

Canny Survivor (Ex)

You can outwit an opponent by sharing evidence of movements or kills they keep secret. Any killing or presence in a place that they don’t want widely known is suitable as long as you have not shared any evidence from that killing or location with them before and they believe it is not widely known.

When attempting to light a fire without flint and steel (or similar fire-making tools), you can find suitable materials and start the fire in only 5 minutes, and you may take 10 on the Survival check when doing so. Also, lighting a torch only takes a standard action (rather than a full-round action), or a move action by using a tindertwig.

You immediately succeed at any checks attempted to identify poisonous foods found in nature, in addition to recognizing poisonous creatures and tainted water.

If you possess the (harvest) package, whenever you harvest from a Tiny or larger creature you may produce enough food to feed a single Medium creature for a day. For every size category above Tiny the creature is, you can feed twice as many Medium creatures. This ability can be used to gain sustenance from unconventional creatures, such as oozes or undead that still possess flesh (such as zombies); but cannot be used with creatures incapable of providing sustenance (such as most constructs or fleshless undead).

Survivalism Packages

Dredge Package

You can spend 10 minutes to dredge up to an amount of 5-foot squares equal to 5 + twice the number of ranks in the associated skill you possess, applying the effects of one (ground) talent to the area. The chosen squares must be contiguous, and a square must be within your natural reach for you to dredge it. This dredged area lasts for 1 hour per rank in the associated skill you possess.

Alternatively, you may spend a full-round action to instead move up to your base speed (provoking attacks of opportunity as normal), dredging up to an amount of 5-foot squares equal to 2 + 2 per 5 ranks in the associated skill you possess, and reducing its duration to 1 round per rank in the associated skill you possess.

A dredged area can be noticed with a successful DC 15 Perception check (although a creature that sees you dredging an area automatically succeeds this check).

When you first gain this package, you gain the following (ground) option:

Disrupt Terrain (ground)

When you use dredge, you can choose one of the following options to apply to the area:

Difficult Terrain: The dredged area becomes difficult terrain.

At 10 ranks in the associated skill, the area is treated as magical for the purposes of effects such as woodland stride.

Cleared Terrain: Any difficult terrain (or areas affected by a (ground) talent) within the dredged area is removed, as long as the difficult terrain was from a non-magical source.

At 10 ranks in the associated skill, you can spend 1 use of skill leverage to also attempt to remove difficult terrain created from magical sources. When doing so, roll 1d20 + your ranks in the associated skill, comparing the result against the effect(s) you are attempting to dredge (DC 11 + t he effects caster level), removing the difficult terrain on a success.

Harvest Package

You can spend 1 minute to harvest a single component from a Tiny or larger corpse. The component corresponds to one (harvest) talent you have. You cannot harvest a component the corpse does not have or that has already been harvested. Some talents gain benefits depending on the creature type the component was harvested from, known as the component’s ‘associated creature type’. A harvested component lasts indefinitely, but has no market value.

You can spend 30 minutes or 15 minutes with a survival kit (Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Ultimate Equipment) to refine a number of components you harvested equal to 1 + 1 per 4 ranks in the associated skill you possess, attempting an associated skill check against the refinement DC of each component refined this way. If you fail the refinement check, the refined component functions as if you had only 1 rank in the associated skill when determining its effects; if you succeed at the refinement check, the component uses your full ranks when determining its additional benefits, if any.

You can only have a number of components refined at one time equal to the number of (harvest) talents you possess + 1/2 your ranks in the associated skill (minimum 1); if you exceed this limit, your oldest refined component spoils 15 minutes later. A refined component grants its benefits for 24 hours before degrading into uselessness.

Some (harvest) talents have a Potency entry. You can increase the refinement DC by 10 to add the listed additional benefits.

When you first gain this package, you gain the Talisman (harvest) talent.

Talisman (harvest)

Refinement DC: 15

You harvest various innocuous pieces of a creature, which can be refined to create a talisman, helping ward off similar creatures. A talisman provides a +1 luck bonus to saving throws against attacks and abilities originating from, as well as skill checks attempted against, creatures of the component's associated creature type. If the creature is a humanoid or outsider, this instead confers its benefits to the subtype of the creature. A creature can only benefit from a single talisman at one time.

Potency: The luck bonus increases by 1 per 5 ranks in the associated skill you possess.


Survivalism Talent Types

Survivalism talents can have the (ground) or (harvest) tags.

Ground Talents

Some talents are marked (ground), granting you additional ways to dredge an area to your advantage. A dredged area can only have the benefits of a single (ground) talent option applied to it at one time; applying a second (ground) talent overrides the first use.

Harvest Talents

Some talents are marked (harvest), granting you new components that you can harvest from a creature. Some (harvest) talents allow you to expend that harvested component to grant the extra effect listed in its Talisman entry to one talisman you refine. A talisman can have no more than one extra component added this way, or two if one of them has the [utility] tag.


Survivalism Talents

Complex Preparation

If you possess the (dredge) package, you can apply two (ground) talents to the dredged area when you dredge. If a talent alters the amount of squares that can be dredged, only that talent is applied to the altered area (for example, applying both a Pit and Hazardous Terrain still allows you to have the Hazardous Terrain expand out of the Pit.

If you possess the (harvest) package, you may apply the benefits of two talisman effects to a single talisman by increasing the Refinement DC by 5.

Corral

When dredging, you can designate a number of squares within the dredged area equal to your operative ability modifier. These squares and all squares adjacent to them become corralled.

A creature that enters or begins their turn in a corralled square takes a -1 penalty to AC and Reflex saves for 1 round, this penalty increases by 1 per 3 ranks in the associated skill you possess. A creature does not suffer these penalties while within the dredged area. A creature who is in a square when it is corralled may opt to move 5 feet into the dredged area as a free action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity and may be taken even when it is not their turn. You cannot apply this talent to squares dredged as a swift action or faster.

When used with the Vertical Dredging talent, any corralled cubes that do not touch the ground only affect flying creatures.

Early Hunt [plan] [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Invention & Ingenuity

You can reveal a plan to be any number of harvested components you could have gathered from a single creature. The creature type of this creature is dependent on your local surroundings, but is generally either an animal, humanoid, or vermin with a CR equal to 1 or lower, as they are usually the most plentiful.

At 5 associated ranks, you can choose to spend 1 use of skill leverage as part of revealing this plan to have the creature type of the harvested components originate from any creature type of your choice, instead of just an animal, humanoid, or vermin. As normal for a [plan] talent, a particularly difficult to find creature type may require you to succeed a skill check, and in some instances may not be possible.

Efficient Preparation

If you possess the (dredge) package, when using dredge, the chosen squares no longer need to be placed contiguously, though all squares must remain within close range of each other. Additionally, you may spend 1 hour when dredging to instead allow the affected area to last for 1 day per 3 ranks in the associated skill you possess.

If you possess the (harvest) package, whenever you harvest a component from a creature, you gain an additional component of the same type (so if you harvest a creature’s hide, you gain two hide components from that creature); this does not function with components that they only have one of (such as a heart). Additionally, you can refine a component so that it occupies two component slots when determining your maximum, but the component lasts for 3 days instead of 24 hours.

Expanded Survivalism

You gain one Survivalism sphere package which you do not already possess. You also unlock skill leverage with two more skills from among the options for the sphere (in addition to the other benefits associated with gaining a new package).

Humane Survivalist [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Invention & Ingenuity

If you possess the (dredge) package, you can dredge in such a way that it wears down those within the area. Any creature that moves through the dredged area suffers 1d6 nonlethal damage for every 5 feet of movement spent entering or moving through the area (this excludes forced movement). A successful Fortitude save made at the end of the total movement halves this damage.

Additionally, if a (ground) talent applied to the dredged area would normally deal lethal damage, you can choose for it to deal nonlethal damage instead.

If you possess the (harvest) package, you can harvest in such a way that it is near harmless, allowing you to harvest component’s from living creatures–generally requiring them to be unconscious or willing. A specific component harvested this way cannot be harvested from the same creature for 1 week after this time.

A component integral to the function of the creature may be difficult or impossible to harvest harmlessly, up to GMs discretion (for example, harvesting blood may be uncomfortable for an animal and may require a successful Handle Animal check, whereas harvesting a creature’s heart would be impossible).

Hunter’s Eye [approach] [utility]

You may adopt this approach as a swift action. When you adopt this approach, you can spend a free action to designate a creature as your mark for 24 hours; marking a creature requires you to at least see the creature or its tracks. You may designate additional creatures as your mark as a swift action, and can only have a number of marked creatures at one time equal to your operative ability modifier (although you can spend 1 use of skill leverage when designating a creature as your mark to have it not count towards this limit).

You learn the parts that can be harvested from your mark, in addition to what terrain they are native to. You gain a +1 insight bonus to Survival checks to track your mark, and to harvest and refine parts from your mark, increasing by 1 per 4 ranks in the associated skill you possess. Additionally, when observing a marked creature's tracks, you can attempt to assess proficiency, assess health, identify the creature, or sense the goal of the marked creature; you may use Knowledge (nature) or this sphere's associated skill instead of the normal skill associated with these skill uses (except when identifying the creature), but doing so causes you to take a -5 penalty when doing so unless you spend 1 use of skill leverage.

Meticulous Hunter [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Harmony & Discord

If you possess the (dredge) package, you can spend an additional 5 minutes when dredging to also camouflage the dredged area, changing the DC to perceive the dredged effect to 10 + your modifier in the associated skill. A creature that fails this check suffers a -2 penalty to any saving throws associated with the dredged area.

If a (ground) option already allows you to camouflage the dredged area (such as the Pit talent), the penalty to saving throws associated with the area increases by 2.

If you possess the (harvest) package, you can harvest all components you have the appropriate (harvest) talent for in 1 minute, instead of just one component. Additionally, you can spend 1 use of skill leverage when you gain the results of a refine attempt, allowing you to add the listed potency effect of the component regardless of the skill check.

Natural Shelter [utility]

By spending 30 minutes and succeeding at a DC 20 associated skill check, you can create (or alter) an impromptu shelter to exist more comfortably in the wilderness. The shelter can house up to an amount of creatures equal to your operative modifier (minimum 1), plus an additional creature for every 5 points you exceed the DC.

Creatures within the shelter suffer no harm from being in a hot or cold environment, and can exist comfortably in conditions between -50 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit (-45.5 and 60 degrees Celsius) without requiring Fortitude saves, and provides protection against other environmental hazards such as smoke, harsh weather, etc. Creatures retain these benefits for half the time they spent resting within the shelter, to a maximum of 4 hours (For example, if a creature spends 6 hours within the shelter, the benefits are retained for 3 hours). This shelter does not protect against environmental damage such as cold or fire damage, and collapses after suffering an amount of damage equal to twice your ranks in this sphere’s associated skill.

Additionally, you can choose to prep up to a 20-foot radius around the shelter with brittle or audible objects. If a corporeal creature enters the prepped area (and is not aware of such preparations), they must succeed at a Reflex saving throw or have their location be revealed to anyone within 40 feet, for 1 round.

Right Where I Want You [plan]

As part of preparing this plan, you must have been able to be near the chosen area for at least 10 minutes. When you reveal this plan, you immediately dredge an area that you can see, selecting an amount of squares as if you had dredged as a full-round action, lasting for 1 round per rank in the associated skill you possess.

Subduer [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Invention & Ingenuity

You take no penalty on attack rolls for using a lethal weapon to deal nonlethal damage. Additionally, whenever you deal nonlethal damage to a creature that is suffering a penalty to their AC (or a similar reduction to their AC against the attack, such as being prone, blind, flat-footed, or the penalties associated with broken armor or a Dexterity penalty), you add your operative modifier to the amount of nonlethal damage dealt.

In addition, you regain 1 use of skill leverage when you apply the unconscious condition to a creature with more than 0 hit points for at least 10 minutes, or render them helpless but conscious for at least 10 minutes. Once you do, you cannot regain skill leverage that way until you regain it in a different manner.

Associated Feat: Bludgeoner.

Survival Instinct [plan]

When you reveal this plan, you retrieve items worth up to 100 gp per rank in the associated skill you possess, deducting the cost of the items immediately (if you cannot pay the cost of the items, you cannot retrieve them). The retrieved items must be something to help in the wilderness, or to combat a specific creature (including their damage vulnerabilities). For example, retrieving an alchemist's fire for a swarm, silversheen or silver blanch for a werewolf, or a compass.

Swift Dredging [approach]

You may adopt this approach as a standard action, choosing an option from a (ground) talent you possess. At the end of each turn you maintain this approach, you can dredge an adjacent square as a free action. This approach must be maintained each turn as a swift action, ending the approach if you fail to maintain the approach. You may only have a number of squares dredged from this talent equal to your operative ability modifier. When you abandon this approach, either willingly or as a failure to maintain it, all currently dredged squares return to normal.

Tandem Bushcraft [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Harmony & Discord

If you possess the (dredge) package, your allies gain a +5 bonus to saving throws against your dredged areas–if the chosen option does not grant a save, they avoid any other penalties or detriments associated with the area (such as ignoring difficult terrain, but not simply ignoring a pit created through the Pit talent).

If the ally has unlocked skill leverage with Survival, or they share a rapport with you, they instead automatically succeed saving throws made against your dredged areas.

If you possess the (harvest) package, when you attempt to grant first aid to a helpless or willing creature, instead of stabilizing or stopping bleed, you can instead attempt to remove a poison from the creature with a successful Heal or associated skill check; the DC of which is equal to the poison's save DC. You can only attempt to draw out poison with this talent within the first 2 rounds of when the target was poisoned, plus an additional round for every 5 ranks you possess in the associated skill. If the check is successful, the creature no longer suffers any additional effects from the poison. You do not risk poisoning yourself when using this talent.

Vertical Dredging

You can dredge using 5-foot cubes rather than 5-foot squares, allowing you to dredge into the air or ground; your (ground) talents affect this dredged area normally. Any cubes that are not in contact with the ground must have a straight line of dredged cubes connecting them directly to the ground.


Harvest Talents

Ailment (harvest)

Refinement DC: 10 + the creature’s Hit Dice

You harvest naturally toxic components from a creature, creating a basic ailment:

Basic Ailment: Poison—ingested or injury; save Fort (Survivalism DC); onset 1 round; frequency 1/round for 1 minute; effect sickened; cure 1 save.

Alternatively, you can harvest a disease or poison from a creature that carries or can inflict such an affliction. This ailment functions identically to the harvested affliction, except that the save DC is equal to your Survivalism sphere DC.

When you refine an ailment, you create a number of doses equal to your operative ability modifier (minimum 1), which you never risk exposing yourself to. An ailment is completely inert and has no monetary value, with a DC 10 Appraise check revealing its volatile nature.

Potency: You may decrease the onset of the ailment to be immediate, and the frequency reduced to 1/round. An ailment refined this way is treated as both a disease and a poison. A basic ailment requires 2 cure saves to remove its effects.

Talisman: The ailment talisman’s wearer causes creature’s of the component’s associated creature type to halve any bonuses to saving throws against disease or poison they possess against the wearer’s abilities; immunities to such effects are instead reduced to a +4 bonus to saving throws against such effects, and do not have these bonuses halved.

Bone (harvest)

Refinement DC: 20

You refine a creature’s bones by attaching them to your armor or clothing, granting a competence bonus to Intimidate checks equal to 2 + 1 per 4 ranks in the associated skill you possess; this bonus is doubled against creature’s of the component’s associated creature type. Additionally, whenever the wearer of these bones would successfully make a creature shaken for 3 or more rounds, they can instead decide to make them frightened for 1 round.

Talisman: Any creature that sees the bone talisman’s wearer must succeed at a Will saving throw or lose their immunity to mind-affecting fear effects originating from the wearer of the talisman, instead gaining a +4 bonus to saving throws against fear and increasing the DC to demoralize them by the same amount. This is not a fear effect. If a creature succeeds its save, it becomes immune to the creator’s bone talismans for 24 hours.

Coat (harvest) [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Invention & Ingenuity

Refinement DC: 15

You refine the fur or coat of a creature by attaching it to your armor or clothing, or as a separate piece entirely. Depending on the creature that the coat comes from, it can either be conspicuous or inconspicuous–this is generally up to GM discretion, but a creature that is trained in Stealth usually possesses an inconspicuous coat. If the coat is considered both conspicuous and inconspicuous, choose one when you refine it.

A refined coat grants its wearer a +2 circumstance bonus to Stealth checks (if inconspicuous) or Diplomacy, Handle Animal, and Perform checks (if conspicuous), increasing by +1 per 5 associated ranks you possess. This bonus to Stealth checks is doubled in terrain that the creature would naturally inhabit.

Potency: The wearer of an inconspicuous refined coat gains concealment (a 20% miss chance) from creatures more than 5 feet away from them, but only if they move no more than half their base speed–if they exceed half their base speed, they lose this concealment until the start of their next turn.

Whenever the wearer of a conspicuous refined coat would be subject to a visual effect, there is a 20% chance that the effect fails, as if they did not observe it. This only applies once per round per effect, and is foiled if the wearer purposefully observes the effect.

Talisman: The coat talisman’s wearer gains increased spryness, gaining a +1 alchemical bonus to Reflex saving throws, and a +2 alchemical bonus to Dexterity-based ability checks and skill checks. These bonuses increase by +1 per 6 associated ranks you possess.

Gland (harvest)

Refinement DC: 20

You refine particularly volatile glands from a creature; generally one that possesses a breath weapon or similar ability to inflict energy damage. This refined gland functions as a splash weapon that can be used as a ranged touch attack with a range increment of 10 feet, dealing 1d6 + 1d6 damage per 2 ranks in the associated skill you possess to the target of a direct hit, and half that damage to targets 5 feet away from the point of contact. The damage type is dependent on the creature it was harvested from (up to GM discretion), or acid if the creature did not possess a breath weapon or similar.

Potency: You may alter the refined gland in one of the following ways:

  • Increase the damage die to d8s instead of d6s.
  • Change the affected area to a 20-foot cone or 40-foot line.

Talisman: A gland talisman has 3 glands when created. Whenever the gland talisman’s wearer would be damaged by a melee attack, one of the gland’s burst, dealing the normal damage for a gland to the attacker (Reflex negates).

Heart (harvest)

Refinement DC: 20

You refine a creature’s heart, allowing it to be eaten or drained as a standard action. The user gains a number of temporary hit points equal to your ranks in this sphere’s associated skill (minimum 1), which last for 10 minutes per rank you possess in this sphere’s associated skill. These temporary hit points replenish whenever the user reduces a creature with at least half as many Hit Dice as your character level to 0 or fewer hit points.

Talisman: The heart talisman’s wearer gains increased vigor, granting a +1 alchemical bonus to Fortitude saving throws, and a +2 alchemical bonus to Strength-based ability checks and skill checks. These bonuses increase by +1/+2 respectively for every 6 ranks in this sphere’s associated skill you possess.

Hide (harvest)

Refinement DC: 20

You refine the hide of a creature, granting a single form of damage reduction or energy resistance that the creature possessed or could feasibly provide (such as cold resistance from a polar bear, up to GM discretion). A refined hide’s damage reduction starts at 1, and its energy resistance starts at 5, increasing by +1/+5 respectively per 5 ranks in the associated skill you possess.

Talisman: The hide talisman’s wearer increases the luck bonus to saving throws normally granted by a talisman by 1 + 1 per 10 ranks in the associated skill you possess.

Ichor (harvest) [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Invention & Ingenuity

Prerequisites: Survivalism sphere, associated skill 5 ranks.

Refinement DC: 25

You can harvest and refine the magical essence from a creature, depending on the creature’s subtype (or one subtype of your choice if it possesses multiple, chosen when it is refined). Refined ichor can be applied to a weapon or up to 50 pieces of ammunition as a standard action (functioning as an oil), and lasts for 1 hour.

  • Aligned (chaotic, evil, good, or lawful subtype): When applied as an oil, the weapon deals +1d8 points of damage to creatures of the alignment associated with the ichor, as well as being treated as being aligned to the opposite alignment when bypassing damage reduction (for example, an ichor originating from a chaotic outsider would bypass DR/lawful).
  • Elemental (air, earth, fire, or water subtype): When applied as an oil, the weapon deals +1d8 points of damage on a successful hit (which stacks with similar sources, such as flaming), depending on the creature’s subtype: air (electricity), earth (acid), fire (fire), water (cold).

Potency: The additional damage increases by +1d8, +1d8 per 8 associated ranks, and half of this additional damage bypasses resistances and immunities.

Talisman: The ichor talisman’s wearer is subtly suffused with the planar energy of the ichor, gaining protective benefits depending on the subtype of the creature associated with the expended component:

  • Aligned (chaotic, evil, good, or lawful subtype): The wearer gains DR equal to your operative modifier (minimum 1) that is bypassed by creature’s of either the opposite or same alignment associated with the ichor (chosen when the talisman is created). For example, ichor originating from an evil outsider could either grant DR/evil or DR/good. Additionally, the wearer radiates a moderate aura of the same alignment associated with the ichor, as well as reducing any other auras they may produce by 10 Hit Dice.
  • Elemental (air, earth, fire, or water subtype): The wearer gains energy resistance 5, depending on the creature’s subtype: air (electricity), earth (acid), fire (fire), water (cold). This resistance stacks with similar sources.

Lifeblood (harvest) [utility]

Refinement DC: 15

You refine the lifeblood of a creature, which functions as if it were a healer's kit with a number of uses equal to your operative modifier (minimum 1). If refined lifeblood is used to treat deadly wounds (and takes at least 10 minutes when doing so), you also restore 1d4 points of ability damage or 1 point of ability drain to a single ability score of your choice. If it is used when providing long-term care, it also grants a +4 alchemical bonus to saving throws against any temporary negative levels they would attempt from resting.

Potency: The refined lifeblood either gains twice as many uses, or when used to treat deadly wounds can affect all ability scores suffering ability damage or drain.

Talisman: The lifeblood talisman’s wearer gains increased stamina, granting a +2 alchemical bonus to Constitution checks, increases by 1 for every 3 ranks in this sphere’s associated skill you possess. Additionally, the wearer is treated as if they had received long-term care whenever they have 8 hours of rest; if they already receive long-term care, they instead remove all ability damage affecting their physical ability scores.

Mucus (harvest)

Refinement DC: 15

You refine the mucus, slime, or similar fluids from a creature, creating a slick liquid that can be thrown as a ranged touch attack with an increment of 10 feet. Creatures in a 10-foot square of the point of contact suffer a -2 penalty to Acrobatics checks, Reflex saves, and to their CMD against bull rush, reposition, and trip attempts for as long as they remain within the area; this penalty increases by 1 per 5 ranks you possess in this associated skill. Additionally, all affected creatures must succeed at a Reflex saving throw or fall prone.

Potency: The affected area increases by 10 feet.

Talisman: The mucus talisman’s wearer becomes covered in a thin layer of viscous liquid, granting them a +5 circumstance bonus on Escape Artist checks and combat maneuver checks made to escape a grapple, and to their CMD to avoid being grappled. Additionally, whenever the wearer moves more than 10 feet in a turn or is affected by forced movement from a physical source (such as being bull rushed, but not a teleportation effect), they can move an additional 5 feet in the direction they were moving, plus 5 feet per 10 ranks in the associated skill you possess.

Musk (harvest) [utility]

Refinement DC: 20

You refine a creature’s scent glands, pheromones, or some other attracting scent from the creature, which can be applied to armor or clothing, granting an alchemical bonus to Bluff, Diplomacy, and Handle Animal checks attempted against creature’s of the component’s associated creature type equal to 1 + 1 per 4 ranks in the associated skill you possess, as long as the creature can smell you.

Potency: The refined musk applies its effects to all creatures that can smell it.

Talisman: The musk talisman’s wearer gains the regular benefits of refined musk, in addition to granting creatures adjacent to them a +2 alchemical bonus to saving throws against the sickened and nauseated conditions.

Pattern (harvest) [utility] [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Invention & Ingenuity

Refinement DC: 15

You can refine the hide or plumage of a creature, which functions as a disguise kit with a number of uses equal to your operative modifier (minimum 1). When a use is expended from the refined pattern, the Disguise check attempt suffers no penalty when attempting to Disguise different materials, add or cover fur, feathers, or scales, or disguise as a substantially different body type. Additionally, the penalty is halved when attempting to disguise as a different size category or the number or arrangement of limbs.

The refined pattern can also be used to disguise as a creature of the component’s associated creature type, although doing so incurs a -6 penalty if it is a different creature type than the disguised creature. A creature trained in the skill used to identify the creature you have disguised as can be used in place of a Perception check when attempting to foil the disguise.

Potency: The refined pattern gains twice as many uses, and when used, removes the penalty associated with attempting to disguise as a different size category, the number or arrangement of limbs, or as a creature of the component’s associated creature type. Additionally, a creature wearing a disguise created using a refined pattern can use your associated skill ranks instead of their Bluff ranks when attempting to create a diversion.

Talisman: The pattern talisman’s wearer naturally draws attention to themselves, gaining a +3 circumstance bonus to checks that make creatures distracted or impressed towards them (such as an Intimidate check to pose a menace, a Perform check to entertain, or any impressive display of skill), which increases by 1 for every 5 ranks in the associated skill you possess.

Reagent (harvest) [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Invention & Ingenuity

Prerequisites: Associated skill 5 ranks

Refinement DC: 25

You harvest the parts of a creature that are highly magical, such as a unicorn’s horn or pixie dust. A refined reagent can be expended as part of casting a spell or magical sphere effect to improve it, allowing the user to choose one of the following benefits to add to the effect:

  • The effect’s range increases by 10 feet (as long as it has a range greater than touch), or its area by 5 feet. These increase by 5 feet for every 5 associated ranks you possess.
  • The user rolls any concentration checks made as part of creating or maintaining the effect twice and takes the highest result.
  • The effect gains a +1 alchemical bonus to its MSB and MSD, +1 per 10 associated ranks. The user can expend a reagent when attempting a dispel check made as part of hack magic to confer this bonus to the attempt.

Potency: The refined reagent gains two additional uses before it becomes expended.

Talisman: A reagent talisman grants its wearer a +2 alchemical bonus to concentration checks and a +1 alchemical bonus to their MSB and MSD. Additionally, once per hour the wearer can grant themselves a +1 alchemical bonus to their caster level as part of casting a spell or magical sphere effect.

Potency: The bonuses granted by the reagent talisman increases by 1.

Scale (harvest) [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Invention & Ingenuity

Refinement DC: 20

You refine the scales (or similarly hardy plates) of a creature, which are usually then woven into armor or clothing, granting a +1 natural armor bonus to AC, +1 per 5 ranks you possess in the associated skill.

Potency: The scales have been so refined that they become partially reflective. The natural armor bonus increases by +1, and the wearer has a 20% chance to cause any ray attacks that target them to be deflected, as if it had missed. Once such an attack has been successfully deflected, it loses this reflective quality until it is specially polished for 10 minutes.

Talisman: The wearer of a scale talisman gains a +1 enhancement bonus to any natural armor that they possess. A creature without natural armor has an effective natural armor bonus of +0.

Potency: The bonus granted by the scale talisman increases by 1 + 1 per 5 associated skill ranks you possess.

Souvenir (harvest) [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Invention & Ingenuity
Refinement DC: 15.

You can refine an easily recognizable part of a creature, like the tooth of a dragon.

A refined souvenir acts as a beacon of inspiration for those that can see it, granting a +2 morale bonus to ability checks and skill checks attempted against or in regard to creatures of the component’s associated creature type to all creatures that can see the souvenir. These bonuses increase by 1 for every 5 associated ranks you possess.

Potency: Creatures that can see the souvenir also gain a +1 morale bonus to all saving throws against any ability’s originating from creatures of the component’s associated creature type, +1 per 7 associated ranks you possess.

Talisman: A souvenir talisman’s wearer gains a +1 competence bonus to weapon attack and damage rolls made against creature’s of the component’s associated creature type, +1 per 7 associated ranks you possess.

Stench (harvest)

Refinement DC: 15

You refine the particularly odorous parts of a creature, like specific glands or waste, creating a stink bomb that can be thrown as a ranged touch attack with a range increment of 20 feet. Creatures within a 10-foot radius burst of the point of contact are sickened for 1 round per 3 ranks in the associated skill you possess (Fortitude negates).

Potency: Affected creatures become nauseated for 1 round on a failed save, and sickened for the remaining duration. On a successful save, the creature is still sickened for 1 round.

Talisman: The stench talisman’s wearer exudes a palpable, yet barely tolerable odor, granting creatures adjacent to the wearer a -2 penalty to saving throws against the sickened and nauseated conditions, and increases the penalties associated with the sickened condition by 1.

Trophy (harvest) [utility] [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Invention & Ingenuity

Refinement DC: 15 + the creature’s CR.

You can harvest the most iconic part of the creature (generally the head), functioning as a harvested trophy (Ultimate Wilderness © 2017, Paizo Inc), although it is considered to be preserved as part of the time spent to harvest it. Unlike a normal component, it possesses a market value as normal for a trophy.

A refined trophy can be used to outwit a creature by revealing it to them, as long as the CR of the creature that the component originates from is at least 3 higher than that of the outwitted creature, or 1 higher if the outwitted creature is trained in the Knowledge skill required to recall information about the creature. Once a trophy has been used to outwit a creature this way, it cannot be used on the same creature again.

Talisman: A trophy talisman’s wearer can assess the proficiency of creature’s of the component’s associated creature type as part of the same action to recall information about such creatures, and they can do so without having to observe such a creature for at least 3 rounds. Additionally, the wearer gains a +3 insight bonus to checks made to assess the proficiency of creature’s of the component’s associated creature type.

Weapon (harvest) [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Invention & Ingenuity

Refinement DC: 20.

You can refine the jaws, claws, or similar natural weapon from a creature, which can be setup to be worn or even supplement pre-existing weapons. A refined weapon grants the wearer a bite, claw, or gore attack, depending on the refined component (although other natural attacks may be able to be refined, up to GMs discretion). This is a primary attack that deals 1d6 damage.
Alternatively, a refined weapon can supplement a natural weapon of a kind a creature already possesses, increasing the damage die of the natural weapon by one step (this is not a size increase).

Potency: The granted natural attack deals 1d8 damage, and the penalty associated with making a secondary natural attack with the refined weapon is reduced to -2 (instead of -5).

Talisman: A weapon talisman’s functions as armor spikes and the wearer is proficient with these armor spikes. A creature that suffers damage from these armor spikes also suffers 1 bleed damage. This bleed damage stacks itself (maximum up to your operative modifier) and with other sources.

These armor spikes are treated as both manufactured and natural weapons for the purposes of spells and effects that would affect them. A creature that hits the wearer with an unarmed attack or natural weapon suffers damage as though they were struck by the armor spikes.

Potency: The armor spikes weapon damage die increases to 1d8, and the bleed damage increases to 3.


Ground Talents

Adjust Visibility (ground)

When you use dredge, you can choose one of the following options to apply to the area:

Clangorous Terrain: Creatures within the dredged area suffer a penalty to Stealth checks equal to your ranks in the associated skill and have their square revealed as if they had been successfully pinpointed—if such a creature is invisible, attacks made against them only suffer from concealment instead of total concealment. These effects persist 1 round after leaving the dredged area. The noise caused by being within the dredged area also causes any sleeping creatures within 30 feet to become conscious.

Softened Terrain: Creatures within the dredged area do not apply their armor check penalty to Stealth checks, and any Perception checks made against creatures within the area suffer a -2 penalty, increasing by 1 per 4 ranks in the associated skill. This penalty is doubled against Perception checks that rely solely on sound. Additionally, creatures with tremorsense can only sense creatures within the area at half the usual distance; if the creature within the area moves at half speed or slower, creatures with tremorsense cannot detect them at all. These effects persist 1 round after leaving the dredged area.

Alter Stability (ground)

When you use dredge, you can choose one of the following options to apply to the area:

Destabilizing Terrain: Any creature who moves within the dredged area must succeed at a Reflex saving throw or fall prone; a creature can move at half their normal speed by succeeding an Acrobatics check against a DC equal to 15 + your ranks in the associated skill + your operative modifier. On a failed check, they must attempt the save normally when they move, although if they fail by 5 or more, they fall prone. Additionally, creatures within the area suffer a penalty to Acrobatics checks equal to 1/2 your ranks in the associated sphere.

In addition, if you possess the Vertical Dredging talent, any cubes you dredge have their Climb DCs increased by an amount equal to your operative ability modifier

Stabilizing Terrain: Creatures within the dredged area gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Acrobatics checks and to their CMD against bull rush, overrun, reposition, and trip attempts, increasing by 1 per 5 ranks in the associated skill you possess. They can also move at full speed when using Acrobatics to avoid provoking attacks of opportunity without increasing the DC to do so, and whenever such a creature stands up from prone, they can move up to half their speed after standing up from prone.

In addition, if you possess the Vertical Dredging talent, the dredged area also provides its bonus to Climb checks.

Change Maneuverability (ground) [LotS]

When you use dredge, you can choose one of the following options to apply to the area:

Ensnaring Terrain: Creatures that enter or begin their turn within the dredged area must succeed at a Reflex saving throw or become battered for 1 round and entangled. If the creature fails their saving throw twice in a row, they become unable to move. An entangled creature can break free as a move action by succeeding at a Strength or Escape Artist check against your Survivalism sphere DC.

Extricating Terrain: Creatures within the dredged area that are battered, entangled, grappled, prone, or squeezing reduce the numerical penalties of those conditions by 2 (the creature is still considered to have these conditions) for as long as they remain within the area. Additionally, such creatures reduce the action cost to break free from the entangled or grappled conditions by one step (1 round to 1 full-round action, a standard action to a move action, a move action to a swift action), to a minimum of a swift action.

Disrupt Elevation (ground)

When you use dredge, you can choose one of the following options to apply to the area:

Elevated Terrain: Entering the dredged area requires an additional 5 feet of movement. Creatures within the dredged area are treated as if they were on higher ground against attacks made against creatures outside of the dredged area. In addition to the +1 circumstance bonus to melee attack rolls these creatures would normally receive, this bonus also applies to ranged attack rolls. This bonus increases by 1 per 6 ranks in the associated skill you possess.

Unpredictable Terrain: Creatures within the dredged area suffer a -1 penalty to attack rolls until the start of their next turn, increasing by 1 per 6 ranks in the associated skill you possess. This area is also considered slightly sloped, increasing the DC of Acrobatics checks by 2. Additionally, creatures who run or charge within the dredged area must succeed at a Reflex saving throw or end their movement 1d2 × 5 feet later; if this saving throw is failed by 5 or more, the creature also falls prone after this movement.

Hazardous Terrain (ground)

The dredged area becomes liable to injure creatures who remain there. Whenever a creature moves through or ends their turn within the dredged area, the creature must succeed at a Reflex saving throw or suffer an amount of piercing damage equal to your operative ability modifier (minimum 1), and their speed is reduced by half (minimum 5 feet). This is otherwise treated as if the creature had stepped on a caltrop for the purposes of removing these penalties, except the movement penalty lasts for 1 minute.

Manipulate Cover (ground)

When you use dredge, you can choose one of the following options to apply to the area:

Entrenched Terrain: You entrench each square of the dredged area with a 3-foot-deep trench, granting partial cover to creatures that are within the dredged area from attacks and effects originating from outside of the dredged area.

At 5 ranks in the associated skill, you can instead create a 5-foot-deep trench, granting cover to Medium or smaller creatures instead.

Flatten Terrain: You flatten each square of the dredged area, reducing any cover for creatures of your size within the dredged area to partial cover, and treating any partial cover within the dredged area as if there were no cover. This has no effect on improved cover.

At 5 ranks in the associated skill, this also reduces improved cover to cover.

Modify Impressions (ground) [utility]

When you use dredge, you can choose one of the following options to apply to the area:

Misleading Terrain: The DC of Survival checks attempted to follow tracks and reconstruct events and to Perception checks attempted to find an object or feature within the dredged area increases by 5 + 1 per 4 ranks in the associated skill you possess.

Additionally, when you dredge an area this way, choose a different series of events that occurred within the area. A creature attempting to use Survival to reconstruct events within the dredged area (or a similar skill check attempting to discern what happened within the area) must succeed at a Will saving throw or come to the conclusion that the events that transpired was the event you chose, instead of the actual event.

Revealing Terrain: Any creature who enters the dredged area becomes marked with a marker of your choice, such as ink, pollen, a scent, etc. The creature must succeed at a Perception check equal to 10 + your associated skill modifier to notice the marker to notice the marker, and can spend 1 minute to remove the marker. The DC to track a marked creature decreases by 5 + 1 per 4 ranks in the associated skill you possess.

You can choose to have a creature become marked only if they meet a certain trigger, chosen when you dredge the area. This could be 'when a certain item is touched', 'if a creature runs', etc.

When you create this dredged area with either option, you can spend 1 use of skill leverage to double the normal amount of squares you can normally dredge.

Pit (ground)

You create a pitfall that is usually obscured using brush or other parts of the environment. When you create this dredged area, you can dredge in cubes, not squares (but only to go downwards), and you halve the normal amount of cubes you can normally dredge. The maximum depth you can reach is 10 feet, plus an additional 5 feet per 5 ranks in the associated skill you possess.

Creatures who enter the dredged area must succeed at a Reflex saving throw or fall into the pit, suffering fall damage as appropriate. Creatures subjected to an effect intended to push them into the pit (such as a bull rush) do not get a saving throw to avoid falling in if they are affected by the pushing effect. The walls of this pit have a Climb DC equal to your Survivalism sphere DC.

You can spend an additional 5 minutes when you dredge using this talent to also camouflage the dredged area using the terrain around you, increasing the DC to notice the dredged area to 10 + your modifier in the associated skill. A creature that fails to discover the camouflaged pit suffers a -2 penalty to the Reflex save to avoid falling into the pit. A creature inside the pit when the dredge ends are harmlessly ejected to the surface.

Prepare Atmosphere (ground) [utility]

When you use dredge, you can choose one of the following options to apply to the area:

Relaxing Atmosphere: Creatures within the dredged area gain a +2 morale bonus to Diplomacy, Handle Animal, Linguistics (except to find a loophole), and Perform checks. These bonuses increase by 1 per 4 ranks in the associated skill you possess. Such creatures also halve the time to orient themselves from a disorientation condition (as long as it would take longer than 1 round to do so).

Additionally, whenever a creature within the dredged area successfully bares their soul (new skill use), the target of the attitude adjustment also reveals a similar piece of information (such as a motivation).

Tense Atmosphere: Creatures within the dredged area reduce the DC required to inflict them with disorientation effects (including saving throw DCs) by 2. Additionally, creatures within the dredged area gain a +2 morale bonus to Perform checks attempted to entertain (dispirit or spook). The DC reductions and bonuses increase by 1 per 4 ranks in the associated skill you possess.

Variate Flow (ground) [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Invention & Ingenuity

When you use dredge, you can choose one of the following options to apply to the area:

Rigid Terrain: Creatures within the dredged area suffer a -1 penalty to AC and Reflex saves and are unable to benefit from dodge bonuses. This penalty increases by 1 for every 6 associated ranks you possess.

Yielding Terrain: Creatures within the dredged area gain a +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves and retain any dodge bonus to AC whenever they would lose their Dexterity to AC. This bonus increases by 1 for every 6 associated ranks you possess.


Exceptional Talents

Animate Earth (ground) (Su) [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Thaumic Potential

Prerequisites: Survivalism sphere (Alter Stability), associated skill 5 ranks.

When you apply a dredge option granted by the Alter Stability (ground) talent, it gains additional benefits depending on the option you choose:

Gyroscopic Terrain: If you choose stabilizing terrain, the terrain adapts and lurches in response to those within it. Creatures within the dredged area gain a +4 bonus to saving throws and skill checks made to resist becoming prone, and even if such a creature falls prone, they do not provoke attacks of opportunity to stand up from prone. Additionally, creatures within the dredged area reduce any forced movement they are subject to by 10 feet (minimum 0 feet).

Turbulent Terrain: If you choose destabilizing terrain, the terrain becomes especially turbulent, causing it to actually shift and churn. Creatures within the dredged area that attempts a saving throw or skill check to not become prone suffers a -4 penalty to the attempt. Additionally, creatures that start their turn within the dredged area are moved 15 feet in a random direction within the dredged area (a successful Reflex save reduces this forced movement to 5 feet); this movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

Astral Preparation (Su) [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Invention & Ingenuity

Prerequisites: Survivalism sphere, associated skill 5 ranks.

If you possess the (dredge) package, your dredged areas are considered force effects, allowing their effects to be subject to incorporeal creatures.

If you possess the (harvest) package, you can choose to take twice as long when harvesting a component from a creature to gain a component that the creature did not originally possess (but not components that have already been harvested). You can only harvest a single specific component from a creature this way (meaning you cannot harvest two hearts from an ooze), unless you could normally do so (such as the Efficient Preparation talent).

You can also harvest components from creatures that do not leave remains, and instead do so where the creature died.

Special: If you possess the Humane Survivalist talent, this allows you to harmlessly harvest components that would normally be innately fatal to the creature (such as their heart), as well as allowing you to harvest components harmlessly from non-corporeal creatures.

Cursed Effigy (harvest) (Su)

Prerequisites: Survival ranks 7, Survivalism sphere ((harvest) package).

Refinement DC: 25

You refine the ‘naturally’ cursed or esoteric components from a creature and bind a basic curse to an object, creating a cursed effigy. You can release the refined curse upon a creature within 30 feet as a standard action that provokes attacks of opportunity; they must succeed at a Will saving throw or suffer a -2 penalty to attack rolls, saving throws, ability checks and skill checks for 1 minute. This is a curse effect.

Alternatively, you can harvest and refine the curse from a creature that can inflict curses and create a cursed effigy in the same way. The chosen curse functions identically to the curse from the creature they were harvested from, except that the save DC is equal to your Survivalism sphere DC.

A curse inflicted on a creature using this talent cannot be harvested and refined again.

Potency: You may release a refined curse to a creature within 60 feet, and the cursed effigy gains an additional use.

Talisman: The cursed talisman’s wearer gains a +4 luck bonus to saving throws against curses; if the saving throw would already benefit from the base talisman, the wearer can instead roll twice and take the highest result. Additionally, the talisman functions as a cursed effigy as above but has a number of uses equal to your operative modifier. Whenever the wearer would be damaged by an attack and the attacker is within 30 feet, they can expend one the uses from the talisman to expose it to the attacker (Will negates).

Entrails (harvest) (Su) [utility] [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Thaumic Potential

Prerequisites: Survivalism sphere, associated skill 5 ranks.

Refinement DC: 20

You can harvest and refine the innards and entrails of a creature. You or a creature that is trained in Spellcraft can spend 1 minute reading through the refined entrails with particular intent on a particular action and whether it will bring good or bad results for the user, as long as such an action is within the next day. Once used, the entrails lose their potency. There is a 70% chance for receiving an answer, + 1% per associated skill rank you possess (maximum 90%); this roll is made secretly. On a success, the diviner gets one of four results:

  • Weal (if the action will probably bring good results).
  • Woe (for bad results).
  • Weal and woe (for both).
  • Nothing (for actions that don't have especially good or bad results, or the effect fails; the user has no way of differentiating).

Actions taken after the scope of this effect does not affect the result, and so may not factor in the long-term consequences of the action. Subsequent attempts from the same diviner about the same topic gain the same result as the first. This is a divination effect.

Potency: When divined, the refined entrails can grant insight that pertains to an action or event within 1 week. Additionally, the user can spend 1 use of skill leverage to gain a more intense divination from the entrails. Instead of gaining one of the four results, they gain more open advice in the form of a short phrase or cryptic rhyme.

Talisman: The wearer of an entrail talisman enhances their own uses of divination. Whenever the wearer casts a divination effect, they gain one of the following benefits, depending on the kind of effect: increase the likelihood of a percentage-based divination to work correctly by 5%, a +2 insight bonus to Perception checks while perceiving through a scrying sensor (increasing by +1 per 4 associated ranks), choose an additional creature when using a Divination sphere divine that normally targets one creature at a time, or they may ask one additional question (such as with speak with dead).

Potency: The wearer of a refined entrail talisman gains a +1 competence bonus to their caster level to divination effects. Plus, the maximum chance of any percentage-based divination roll that the wearer makes is increased to 100% (instead of the usual 90%), and the perceivable area of a scrying sensor is tripled.

Expansive Preparation (Su)

Prerequisites: Associated skill 5 ranks, Survivalism sphere.

If you possess the (dredge) package, you may dredge without having a square adjacent to you, and may have the area located within close range (25 feet + 5 feet per 2 ranks in the associated skill you possess). This is generally accomplished through some supernatural means, such as through conversing with the earth, calling upon the spirits of nature, magical intervention, etc.

If you possess the (harvest) package, you can spend double the amount of time refining a harvested component to have its effects function against all creature types, not just the creature type that they were harvested from.

This talent replaces ranged dredging.

Flight (harvest)

Prerequisites: Associated skill 5 ranks, Survivalism sphere ((harvest) package).

Refinement DC: 20

You refine the wings or other methods of aviation from a creature and attach them to your armor or clothing, granting an alchemical bonus to Fly checks equal to 4 + 1 per 4 ranks in the associated skill you possess, in addition to increasing the maneuverability of any fly speed you possess by one step.

If you do not possess a fly speed, you gain a 15-foot fly speed (poor) that only functions during your turn; this does not benefit from the increase that this component normally grants. If you are not on a surface that can support you at the end of your turn, you glide safely to the ground, at a speed of 60 feet per round, taking no falling damage. You cannot use this fly speed to hover.

Potency: The fly speed functions for an additional round before you begin to glide to the ground. Additionally, the fly speed increases to 30 feet, +10 feet per 3 ranks you possess in the associated skill beyond 5 ranks.

Talisman: The flight talisman’s wearer increases the maneuverability of any fly speed they possess by two steps. If the wearer does not possess a fly speed, they instead gain a 30-foot fly speed (average); this does not benefit from this talisman’s maneuverability increase.

Intellect (harvest) (Su)

Prerequisites: Associated skill 5 ranks, Survivalism sphere ((harvest) package).

Refinement DC: 20

You magically refine a creature’s mind, taking their intellect and memories through ritual, consumption, etc., granting you an alchemical bonus to checks attempted to recall information equal to 2 + 1 per 4 ranks in the associated skill you possess.

Potency: You also learn a specific piece of information from the creature's mind that pertains to one of its motivations; usually enough information to answer a single, specific question to the best of that creature's knowledge, in no more than 25 words. Unlike most refined components, the gained information is permanent.

Talisman: The mind talisman’s wearer gains a +2 enhancement bonus to either their Intelligence or Wisdom score. At 10 ranks in the associated skill, you can either increase the enhancement bonus to +4, or to gain the bonus to both scores when you create this talisman.

Limitless Preparation

Prerequisites: Associated skill 10 ranks, Survivalism sphere (Efficient Preparation).

Your preparations have a timeless quality. Whenever you use Efficient Preparation to increase the duration of a refined component or dredged area, it instead lasts indefinitely.

Shift Brightness (ground)

Prerequisites: Survivalism sphere ((dredge) package).

When you use dredge, you can use light sources or shade (a natural effect) or strange geometry (a supernatural effect) to create one of the following options to apply to the area. The penalty or bonuses granted by these options apply even to perceive things outside the area and increase by 1 for every 4 ranks in the associated skill you possess.

Shaded Terrain: The dredged area has its light level reduced by one step (minimum darkness). Additionally, creatures take a -2 penalty to Perception checks while within the area.

At 10 ranks in the associated skill, you can choose to instead have the dredged area light level reduced by two steps. Dim light and darkness becomes supernatural darkness.

Radiant Terrain: The dredged area has its light level increased by one step. Additionally, creatures get a +2 circumstance bonus to Perception checks while within the area.

At 10 ranks in the associated skill, you can choose to instead have the dredged area light level increase by two steps. Normal light and bright light becomes equivalent to that of daylight.

Soul (harvest) (Su) [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Invention & Ingenuity

Prerequisites: Survivalism sphere ((harvest) package), associated skill 15 ranks.

Refinement DC: 25

You can harvest the soul of a creature that has died no longer than a day ago by spending 1 use of skill leverage and containing it within a gemstone worth at least 1,000 gp per Hit Die of the creature to contain the soul within, unless you have the Astral Preparation talent. The creature receives a Will saving throw to negate the harvest attempt–on a success, you cannot harvest the same creature’s soul again for 24 hours. On a failed save, the creature’s soul is trapped, foiling any attempts to resurrect or summon their spirit unless the caster holds the gemstone. If the gemstone is destroyed, the soul is released.

A refined soul can be temporarily called upon as a standard action by spending 1 use of skill leverage, summoning its spirit to ask up to 1 question per 2 associated ranks. The spirit’s knowledge is limited to what it knew in life (including language), and depending on the spirit’s disposition towards you, their answers may be brief, cryptic, or deceitful.

Unlike a normal component, a refined soul persists indefinitely without intervention.

Potency: Whenever the refined soul is called upon to ask questions, it can never refuse to answer a question or answer deceitfully (although it can remain evasive or cryptic). Additionally, the refined soul can be called upon to fight. A spirit called upon this way persists for 1 minute, and fights any creatures that are hostile towards the creature that called upon it. Such a spirit functions as though affected by a Death sphere reanimate, with your choice of the skeletal champion, zombie lord, or ghost template (chosen when summoned); if you choose the ghost template, it does not gain the listed special attacks or the rejuvenation ability. The spirit retains any damage it suffers across multiple instances of calling it until 24 hours have passed, in which case it is restored to full hit points.

Talisman: A soul talisman reinforces the wearer’s vitality. The wearer adds your associated ranks to their Constitution score for determining when their negative hit point total would kill them. Additionally, once per day whenever the soul talisman’s wearer would be killed, they are restored to life at 1 hit point.

Potency: The soul talisman’s wearer instead adds twice your associated ranks to their Constitution score for determining when their negative hit point total would kill them. Additionally, when they are restored to life with the soul talisman, they are restored to 10% of their hit point maximum.

Visceral Survivalist (Ex) [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Invention & Ingenuity

Prerequisites: Survivalism sphere, associated 5 ranks.

If you have the (dredge) package, whenever you successfully damage a creature with a melee attack (or a ranged attack if you have the Expansive Preparation talent), you can dredge a square occupied by the damaged creature as a free action–if the attack was a critical hit or killed the creature, you dredge a 10-foot radius centered on the damaged creature. These dredged squares last for a number of rounds equal to your operative modifier (minimum 1).

If you have the (harvest) package, whenever you kill a creature, you can harvest it as a free action (as if you had taken 1 minute to do so), and refine one such component as an immediate action. You can also harvest a corpse as a move action.

If you have the Humane Specialist talent, you can harvest a component harmlessly from a creature as a standard action or as part of knocking a creature unconscious–if the creature is conscious and unwilling, you can do so with a successful steal combat maneuver or a DC 20 Sleight of Hand check (as if it were a small object). After this action, you can refine such a component as an immediate action.

Warded Terrain (ground) (Su)

Prerequisites: Associated skill 10 ranks, Survivalism sphere ((dredge) package, (harvest) package, Cursed Effigy (exceptional)).

You can spend 1 use of skill leverage and expend a refined curse to dredge using a mixture of salt, cold iron, or a similar mixture, you help ward off those that would harm your efforts. The amount of squares you can dredge when using this talent is halved. As part of dredging, choose an end of the alignment spectrum (good, evil, lawful, chaotic); you must choose an alignment that you possess. Creatures with the subtype of that alignment's opposite (good for evil, lawful for chaotic, etc.) cannot enter the dredged area, and attacks made by them against creatures within the dredged area must be rolled twice and take the lowest result.

Additionally, creatures within the dredged area may roll saving throws twice and take the highest result against effects originating from creatures of the opposed alignment. If the effect would be a mind-affecting effect, the target is instead immune to its effects; if the target is already under the influence of such an effect, they may attempt a new saving throw against the effect, suppressing the effect as long as they remain within the dredged area.

This does not expel a controlling life force (such as a ghost or projected spirit), but it does prevent them from controlling the target. This is a supernatural effect.


Drawbacks

Ethical Gathering [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Invention & Ingenuity

Prerequisites: Harvest package.

You cannot harvest components from corpses, and gain the Humane Survivalist talent.

Hunter

You do not gain the talisman (harvest) talent, and cannot create talismans. You gain a (harvest) talent instead.

Resourceful Laborer [alternate start]

You use Craft (taxidermy) or Profession (architect, butcher, farmer, gardener, miner, monster slayer, siege engineer, trapper, or woodcutter) as your associated skill for the Survivalism sphere, in addition to using your ranks in that skill when meeting prerequisites that require the Survivalism sphere.

Slow Dredger

Prerequisites: (dredge) package.

You cannot dredge as a full-round action, and must spend the normal 10 minutes of work to dredge. You gain the Efficient Preparation talent instead.

Survivalist [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Invention & Ingenuity

You do not gain a Survivalism package. You gain the Natural Shelter, Subduer, or Survival Instinct talent. If you choose a [utility] talent, the base sphere gains the [utility] tag.

Particular Trencher [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Harmony & Discord

Prerequisites: (dredge) package.

Choose either harmful or beneficial dredge options; once chosen, this cannot be changed. You may only use dredge options of the chosen kind. A ‘harmful’ dredge option is something that applies a penalty or similar impediment (such as difficult terrain or a pit), whereas a ‘beneficial’ dredge option is one that applies a benefit or removes impediments (such as the Cleared Terrain option).

If you chose harmful dredge, you gain the Meticulous Hunter talent as a bonus talent, whereas if you chose beneficial dredge, you gain the Complex Preparation talent as a bonus talent.


Survivalism Sphere Feats

Animist (Champion, Dual Sphere) [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Invention & Ingenuity

Prerequisite: Survival 3 ranks, Survivalism sphere; Nature sphere or Trap sphere.

Benefit: You gain the following benefits, depending on the spheres you possess:

  • Buried Traps (Survivalism sphere, Trap sphere): Whenever you dredge as a full-round action or longer, you can place a Trap sphere trap within the dredged area as part of the action to do so. The trap’s area must be contained entirely within the dredged area.
    Special: If you have the Meticulous Hunter Survivalism talent, the Perception DC to notice a trap placed this way increases by 2.
    Special: If you have the Sneaky Trapper Trap sphere talent, you can attempt an associated skill check instead of Sleight of Hand when attempting to place the trap discreetly.
  • Spiritual Dredging (Nature sphere, Survivalism sphere ((dredge) package): Whenever you use a geomancing ability that affects an area and takes at least a standard action to create, you can spend 1 spell point as an immediate action to dredge the area as well. The dredged area lasts for as long as the geomancing ability does, and for 1 round afterwards.
  • Of Soil and Bone (Nature sphere, Survivalism sphere ((harvest) package): Whenever you create a talisman, you can spend 1 spell point to apply the effects of a single (spirit) talent you possess in place of a talisman benefit (paying any costs associated). The (spirit) talent is conferred to the wearer of the talisman, who can activate the chosen talent as a free action, causing the spirit effect to begin its duration–if the effect has a spell point cost to extend its duration (including allowing the effect to persist without concentration), its cost is considered to be paid. If the chosen talent lacks a duration and has no associated spell point cost (such as the Dragonlung or Nature’s Weapon talents), the wearer gains the benefits of the talent for 1 round per caster level when activated.

Elemental Rift (Champion) [LotS]

Prerequisites: Destruction sphere (any one (blast type) talent), Survivalism sphere ((dredge) package, Hazardous Terrain).

Benefit: When you use the Hazardous Terrain talent in a dredged area, you can apply a single (blast type) talent to the dredged area, changing the damage type dealt from piercing damage to the damage dealt by the (blast type) talent.

You can also choose to forgo the additional effect of the dredged area that reduces a creature’s movement speed to add any additional effects that the (blast type) talent may possess; if you do so, you must pay any associated costs of the talent when you apply it. Any damage die alterations also change the damage dealt from Hazardous Terrain; an increase to d8s doubles the damage dealt, whereas a decrease to d4s halves the damage dealt.

Practiced Refinement

Prerequisites: Associated skill 5 ranks, Survivalism sphere ((harvest) package), favored enemy class feature.

Benefit: You may have an additional refined component active at one time, as long as it originated from one of your favored enemies. Additionally, whenever you refine a component, you may expend a component from a favored enemy as part of its refinement. The refined component confers its benefits as if it was from both creature types used as part of this refinement.

Strategic Terrain (Champion, Dual Sphere) [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Harmony & Discord

Prerequisite: Survivalism sphere ((dredge) package), Warleader sphere.

Benefit: Whenever you dredge an area, you can expend your martial focus to also apply the effects of a tactic to the area. A tactic applied this way does not need to be maintained, but cannot be moved from the dredged area. This does not function on instantaneous (tactic) talents.

Totemic Effigy (Su) [DRS]

Source: Diamond Spheres: Invention & Ingenuity

Prerequisites: Survivalism sphere ((dredge) and (harvest) package).

Benefit: Whenever you dredge an area as a standard action or longer, you can utilize a talisman as part of it, expending it in the process. Creatures within the dredged area gain the benefits of the talisman as if they were wearing it–this does not count towards the amount of talisman benefits a creature can benefit from. Effects that are dependent on perceiving a creature wearing the talisman instead function as long as such a creature is within the dredged area.


This website uses cookies. See the Legal & OGL page for important information. Any material NOT covered by the Open Game License Version 1.0a is covered by the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License.