The content below is a review of an article written by Monte Cook and Published by Wizards of the Coast in the April 2001, Dragon Magazine issue number 282, on page 85, titled: Class Acts - Blessed of Gruumsh. This article presents gaming information for a "d20 format" prestige class.

BLESSED OF GRUUMSH
Written by: Monte Cook
Review by: Terry Zimmerman

The 'Blessed of Gruumsh' is a prestige class for orcs of half-orcs that are pure and true to the teachings of Gruumsh, and of the ways of the orcs. The Blessed exemplify all that is orcish and follow their god to the best of their abilities. Despite their name and great devotion, Blessed are not just clerics. Most blessed are Fighters or Barbarians, and often are Clerics. Some Blessed are also Rogues and Rangers.
 
The Blessed are great warriors and are usually leaders and masters of intimidation. 

Requirements 

Alignment: Any non-good
Racial: Must be orc or half-orc
Base Attack Bonus: +6
Knowledge (religion): 3 ranks
Feats: Weapon Proficiency (orc double-axe), Power Attack, Cleave
Special: In a special ritual dedicate to Gruumsh the character must remove one of his own eyes, to further embody the one-eyed god.

Class Skills

Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (religion) (Int), Profession (Wis), and Spot (Wis). 

Class Features 

Hit Die: d10 

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A Blessed of Gruumsh is proficient with all Simple and Martial weapons, all types of armor, and with shields. 

Divine Blessing: As Gruumsh is said to watch over his blessed ones, each has a luck bonus added to his Armor Class. The class level of the Blessed of Gruumsh is added to their AC. This is an extraordinary ability. 

Fist of Gruumsh: Gained at 2nd level and usable once per day, the Blessed can inflict additional damage with any single attack. The damage inflicted increases as the Blessed progress in levels. At levels 2-4, the damage is +1d6, levels 5-7 it is +2d6, and at levels 8-10 it is +3d6. This is a supernatural ability and must be declared before an attack roll is made. If the attack roll is a miss, this special attack is wasted and is expended for the day. 

Evil Eye (eye of disdain): At 3rd level, the Blessed can make a gaze attack once per day, as a spell-like ability. The range of this attack is 30 feet, and a Will Save resists the effect (DC 10 + Blessed's class level + Charisma modifier). Those that fail suffer a -1 morale penalty on attacks, saves, and skill checks for 1 round per the Blessed's class level. 

Keen Eye of Gruumsh: At 5th level, the Blessed can add a luck bonus to an attack roll for any single attack, once per day. The bonus added to the attack roll is equal to the Blessed's class level. This is a supernatural ability and must be declared prior to making an attack roll. If the attack roll is a miss, this special attack is wasted and is expended for the day. 

Evil Eye (eye of fear): At 6th level the Blessed can make a gaze attack as an attack action, once per day, as a spell-like ability. The range of the attack is 30 feet, and a Will Save resists the effect (DC 10 + Blessed's class level + Charisma modifier). Those that fail the save, must run in fear as if affected by a fear spell cast by a sorcerer the same level as the Blessed's class level. 

Thunderous Roar of Gruumsh: At 8th level the Blessed can double his number of attacks in a given round, while he belows an incredible roar. (ie: if the character is attacking with an orc double-axe and if his normal attacks would be +16/ +11/ +6 with his primary attack and +16 with an off-hand attack, then with this ability his attacks would be +16/ +16/ +11/ +11/ +6/ +6 with his primary attack and two off-hand attacks each made at +16.) This is an extraordinary ability and is usable once per day. (Note: the Blessed's roar must be 'heard' to have an effect -- an area affected by a silence spell would negate this ability's effects.) 

Evil Eye (eye of curses): At 9th level the Blessed of Gruumsh can make a gaze attack, once per day, as a spell-like ability. The range of the attack is 30 feet, and a Fortitude Save resists the effect (DC 10 + Blessed's class level + Charisma modifier). Those that fail are cursed as if a bestow curse had been cast upon them. 

True Orc: At 10th level the Blessed can call upon Gruumsh's might and speak in a commanding voice. The Blessed utters words in ancient orc language, dating back to the birth of the orcs. The words inspire all orcs within 100 feet that can hear the words (including the utterer), and grants them a +4 morale bonus to attacks, saves and skill checks for 1 minute per level of the Blessed. This is a spell-like ability and is usable once per week. 

        Level	Attack Bonus	Fort. Save	Ref. Save	Will Save	 Special	
1	+1	+2	+0	+0	Divine Blessing +1	
2	+2	+3	+0	+0	Fist of Gruumsh	
3	+3	+3	+1	+1	Evil Eye (eye of disdain)	
4	+4	+4	+1	+1	Divine Blessing +2	
5	+5	+4	+1	+1	Keen Eye of Gruumsh	
6	+6	+5	+2	+2	Evil Eye (eye of fear)	
7	+7	+5	+2	+2	Divine Blessing +3	
8	+8	+6	+2	+2	Thunderous Roar of Gruumsh	
9	+9	+6	+3	+3	Evil Eye (eye of curses)	
10	+10	+7	+3	+3	Divine Blessing +4, True Orc