The Ideologue (An OD&D Cleric Variant)

27 Apr, 2026

A firebrand who spreads their ideological belief through word and direct action against an opposed political formation and state apparatus of control. Their belief is so strong that they can banish the social specters of executed kings and queens, deposed nobility, failed regimes, thwarted revolutionaries, and repudiated governmental forms.

The Ideologue bestows a +1 to hireling morale rolls, and after a day of espousing their beliefs while in a polity, they have a 10% chance of attracting an additional hireling¹. The Ideologue receives a -2 penalty on reaction rolls when encountering those of a different ideology.

The Ideologue requires a political treatise, manifesto, or propaganda poster instead of a spellbook. They use Cleric spells, XP progression, and saves. They may wield bladed weapons.

Discourse & Agitation

The Ideologue uses discourse, reasoning, and argumentative agitation to convince other humanoid-types of the correctness of their ideology. Roll 2d6 and compare it to the target numbers given below (▶️ means convinced of the ideology at that moment², and ⚡means one becomes a true believer of the Ideologue’s argumentation.  If successful, 2d6 humanoid-types are affected.

New Spells

Night Operations

Used to nightly sabotage work, the Ideologue’s eyes have adapted to lower light conditions.

Level: Ideologue 1

Duration: 12+🧙 turns

Description: As Infravision for 60”.

As a Fish Swims in the Sea

The revolutionary must move amongst the people

Level: Ideologue 1

Duration: 🧙 turns

Description: As Phantasmal Physiognomy (Face & body change appearance. Must remain generally humanoid.*

Explosive Grenade

The Ideologue has been taught how to make an explosive by their radical cadre members

Level: Ideologue 4

Duration: 10-40 seconds

Description: A timed bomb that explodes for 3d6 damage in 60’ radius. Those caught in the blast can roll a save vs breath to take half damage from the explosion.

New Creatures

Royalist Spectre: 6HD. 2AC. 15”/30”. Incorporeal undead. Unharmed by normal weapons, half damage from silver weapons

• Drain: 2 LVL/hit
• Indoctrinate: Such a dispossessed spirit can possess the living to achieve the goals it failed to achieve in life. A player can Save vs. Death to prevent the spirit from controlling the body. A new save can be performed each round to excise the possession. An individual can make a save each time they rest, or is controlled by the spirit and only remembers political nightmares afterwards.
• Return: Can only be permanently put to rest if its political movement gains or reattains hegemony. If destroyed, it returns in 1d100 days.

Headless Noble: 4HD. 3AC. 12”/24”. Incorporeal undead. Unharmed by normal weapons, half damage from silver weapons

• Drain: 1 LVL/hit
• Indoctrinate: Such a dispossessed spirit can possess the living to achieve the goals it failed to achieve in life. A player can Save vs. Death to prevent the spirit from controlling the body. A new save can be performed each round to excise the possession. An individual can make a save each time they rest, or is controlled by the spirit and only remembers political nightmares afterwards.
• Return: Can only be permanently put to rest if its political movement gains or reattains hegemony. If destroyed, it returns in 1d100 days.

Executed Radical: 3HD. 5AC. 9”. Incorporeal undead. Unharmed by normal weapons, half damage from silver weapons

• Drain: 1 LVL/hit
• Indoctrinate: Such a dispossessed spirit can possess the living to achieve the goals it failed to achieve in life. A player can Save vs. Death to prevent the spirit from controlling the body. A new save can be performed each round to excise the possession. An individual can make a save each time they rest, or is controlled by the spirit and only remembers political nightmares afterwards.
• Return: Can only be permanently put to rest if its political movement gains or reattains hegemony. If destroyed, it returns in 1d100 days.