| Experience Points |
Exp. Level |
8-sided Hit Dice |
||
| 0 | - | 2,000 | 1 | 1 |
| 2,001 | - | 4,000 | 2 | 2 |
| 4,001 | - | 8,000 | 3 | 3 |
| 8,001 | - | 15,000 | 4 | 4 |
| 15,001 | - | 30,000 | 5 | 5 |
| 30,001 | - | 60,000 | 6 | 6 |
| 60,001 | - | 125,000 | 7 | 7 |
| 120,001 | - | 250,000 | 8 | 8 |
| 250,001 | - | 500,000 | 9 | 9 |
| 500,001 | - | 750,000 | 10 | 9+2 |
| 750,001 | - | 1,000,000 | 11 | 9+4 |
Like the cleric, the sohei is concerned with the worship of a specific deity, and the spread of this deity's worship to others. However, the sohei is a more active defender of the faith than a normal cleric. They are often found guarding temples or churches, or actively seeking out and defeating a religion's foes. As they may still be called upon to wield the powerful magics that a deity grants, good judgment is also essential. Thus, the principle attributes of sohei are wisdom and strength. A sohei must have a minimum score of 9 in both wisdom and strength; a good dexterity and constitution are also highly desirable. Sohei with both wisdom and strength of 16 or greater gain a 10% experience bonus; they also gain bonus spells (see Wisdom Table II).
The sohei resembles in many ways several religious orders of knights in the medieval ages, and is a common fixture in Oriental settings (each temple usually having several dozen protecting sohei). They are permitted to wear any sort of armor, and have a much wider selection of weapons than normal clerics. As with normal clerics, various religious orders may also have preferred and/or forbidden weapons. Sohei have excellent combat progression and average saving throw possibilities and also may cast a variety of magic spells (although not as many as normal clerics).
Sohei differ from paladins in that they are still ordained priests of their religions and are expected to minister to their flocks, although their prime duty is protection rather than ministration. As such, they tend to be much more tied to a single religous edifice and generally are not explorers or wanderers as are paladins and normal clerics. Paladins generally operate either alone or in very small groups; several dozen sohei often may be found together providing protection for a larger temple or church.
Similar to clerics, sohei often have restrictions on the types of spells that they may cast. They may also have restrictions on the exact weaponry allowed, although this is less commoon. Additionally, not all religions have sohei; particularly non-violent or nomadic religions may find the sohei class to be either unnecessary or undesirable; check with the DM for restrictions on which religions allow sohei in the campaign world.
Sohei do not have the ability to turn or compel into service undead or creatures from the lower planes.
Sohei cast spells as a cleric of identical level; however, they usually have a much more limited number of spheres of influence from which to choose their spells. Sohei may use faith magic and may participate in cooperative magic. On extremely rare occasions, a sohei may be granted a Quest spell.
SPELLS USABLE BY CLASS AND LEVEL - Sohei
| Sohei Level |
Cleric Spell Level | ||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |
| 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 4 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - |
| 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - |
| 9 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - |
| 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - |
| 11 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | - | - |
| 12 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | - | - |
| 13 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | - | - |
| 14 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1¹ | - |
| 15 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | - |
| 16 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | - |
| 17 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | - |
| 18 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | - |
| 19 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1² |
| 20 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 21 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 22 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| 23 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 24 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| 25 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| 26 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| 27 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| 28 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 |
| 29 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
Starting at 12th level, construction of magic items, potions, and scrolls is possible in a manner identical to clerics.
Sohei must be attached to a particular religous edifice or belong to a specific order. Sohei may not generally wander about the countryside without a specific purpose specified by superiors at the home church. As a sohei rises in level and rank within his religion, more personal discretion is allowed when choosing actions, but, in general, a sohei should consider the safety of his home church his paramount responsibility.
Sohei of 15th level and above may build a religious stronghold or start their own order. Any stronghold must contain a large temple or church of at least 5000 sqare feet. Once completed, the stronghold will attact a body of worshipers in a manner similar to clerics (q.v.).
