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kirellagen
2004-07-28, 08:47 PM
Ambassador of Kirellagen

It was the last day of the negotiations. Grark, the leader of the Hobgoblin horde, stood facing Morgurth, the leader of the Elven community. Damian was feeling hopeless. "Please, can't you see that this war will benefit neither of your communities?" he begged the two stonefaced warriors. He looked around desperately, and saw a truly amazing sight. A beautiful hawk swooped down and changed into a tall man. The hobgoblin guards charged at him, swords drawn, but he easily parried their clumsy strokes with his scimitar. Finally, with all the hobgoblins subdued, he stood before the two leaders. "I beg you," he began, "not to go to war."
He continued speaking. He spoke of the elves, and their skill with sword and magic. He spoke of the hobgoblins, and their strength and battle prowess. As he spoke, the two leaders saw each other as they saw themselves, and in doing so gained each other's respect. When he finished speaking, there was a silence. Every one was thinking on what he said. Finally, Grark spoke. "We could make a truly great alliance together," he said to Morgurth.
"I agree."

The Ambassador of Kirellagen is a person born to resolve conflicts. Kirellagen is the god of treaties, alliances, and ambassadors. The Ambassador of Kirellagen works toward helping others reach an agreement, and gets powers from Kirellagen in return. Although Ambassadors of Kirellagen usually work for peace, sometimes the only way to resolve a conflict is to fight. Fortunately, an Ambassador of Kirellagen tries to be prepared for any outcome.
HD: d8


Requirements:
Alignment: Any Good or True Neutral.
Skills: 8 ranks in Diplomacy, 4 ranks Sense Motive.
Feat: Skill Focus (Diplomacy).
Special: Must be blessed at a temple of Kirellagen.

Class Skills:
The Ambassador of Kirellagen's class skills (and the key ability for each skill)
are Bluff (Cha), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (Nobility) (Int), Perform (Cha),Profession (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Speak Language (na).
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.

Table: The Ambassador of Kirellagen

{table]
Level BAB Fortitude Reflex Will Special Spellcasting
1 +0 +0 +2 +2 Way with Words, Scimitar Focus +1 of Existing Class
2 +1 +0 +3 +3 Familiar +1 of Existing Class
3 +2 +1 +3 +3 Initiative Bonus +1 of Existing Class
4 +3 +1 +4 +4 Hawk Form 1/day +1 of Existing Class
5 +3 +1 +4 +4 Uncanny Parry +1 of Existing Class
6 +4 +2 +5 +5 Hawk Form 2/day +1 of Existing Class
7 +5 +2 +5 +5 Conviction, Blessing of the Clouds +1 +1 of Existing Class
8 +6 +2 +6 +6 Hawk Form 3/day, Kirellagen's Blessing +1 +1 of Existing Class
9 +6 +3 +6 +6 Blessing of the Clouds +2 -
10 +7 +3 +7 +7 Hawk Form at will, Kirellagen's Blessing +2 -
[/table]

Class Features
All the following are Class Features of the Ambassador of Kirellagen prestige class.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Ambassadors gain scimitar proficiency, and are proficient with light armor and shields.
Spells per Day/Spells Known: When a new Ambassador level is gained (other than 9th and 10th), the character gains new spells per day (and spells known, if applicable) as if he had also gained a level in whatever spellcasting class he belonged to before he added the prestige class level. He does not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained. If a character had more than one spellcasting class before he became an Ambassador, he must decide to which class he adds each level of Ambassador for the purpose of determining spells per day.
Way with Words: (Ex) The Ambassador get a competence bonus to Sense Motive and Diplomacy equal to his AoK level.
Scimitar Focus: The AoK gains the Weapon Focus (Scimitar) feat for free if he does not already have it.
Familiar: An AoK can obtain a familiar. Doing so takes 24 hours and uses up magical materials that cost 100 gp. An AoK may have any familiar that is available to a wizard or sorcerer. A familiar is a magical beast that resembles a small animal and is unusually tough and intelligent. The creature serves as a companion and servant. The AoK chooses the kind of familiar he gets. As the AoK advances in level, his familiar also increases in power.
If the familiar dies or is dismissed by the AoK, the AoK must attempt a DC 15 Fortitude saving throw. Failure means he loses 200 experience points per class level; success reduces the loss to one-half that amount. However, an AoK's experience point total can never go below 0 as the result of a familiar's demise or dismissal. A slain or dismissed familiar cannot be replaced for a year and day. A slain familiar can be raised from the dead just as a character can be, and it does not lose a level or a Constitution point when this happy event occurs.
A character with more than one class that grants a familiar may have only one familiar at a time.
Initiative Bonus: (Ex) The AoK gains a +2 Insight bonus to initiative.
Hawk Form: (Sp) At 4th level, the AoK gains the ability to turn into a hawk and back once per day. Changing form is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. The AoK can do this twice per day at 6th level, three times per day at 8th level, and at will at 10th level. This ability functions as a druid's wild shape ability (exept for the hit point gain rule). Note: A flavor note, the hawk is the symbol of Kirellagen.
Uncanny Parry: (Ex) When fighting with a scimitar and light or no armor, an AoK gets a +1 dodge bonus to AC and +2 to Ref saves.
Conviction: (Ex) The AoK can retry a failed Sense Motive or Diplomacy check. However, the AoK gets a -2 penalty to the check, doubling for every retry on the same check. For instance, the AoK gets a -2 penalty on the first retry, a -4 penalty on the second retry, and a -16 penalty on the fourth retry. An AoK cannot make another retry if the penalty equals or exeeds his ranks in the skill.
Blessing of the Clouds: The AoK gains a +1 inherent bonus to Dex at seventh level. This increases to +2 at ninth level.
Kirellagen's Blessing: The AoK gains a +1 inherent bonus to Cha at eighth level. This increases to +2 at tenth level.
[hr]

Please comment, any suggestions gladly taken!

Kire

Edit: Fixed some minor bugs. Edit: Again. Now Divine Spellcasting is supported.

Starbuck_II
2004-07-29, 10:41 AM
First, I must say nice class: a little close to deadline though :P
Familiar: Is it same selection as a wizard or Sorceror? What can you choose from?

I like the class, a warrior of peace that can fight if has to I think.
Rather than giving Improved Intiative you could add +2 intiative. Its half as strong as the feat and it stacks so that is a nice thing.

So the +1 existing class is only for arcane magic in text it says?
Shouldn't a divine class also make sense since you must be blessed by the temple?

kirellagen
2004-07-29, 11:44 AM
thanks for the help!

Familiar: Yes, it's the same selection, I'll put that in my post.

Improved init: Again, good Idea.

Divine spellcasting: I actually meant for it to be that way, but my copy + paste skills are terrible. time for some editing!

kirellagen
2004-07-29, 11:50 AM
And yes, this is a little close to the deadline, but I don't expect to win anyway, I just wanted my PrC out there.

Kire

Vik
2004-07-29, 11:56 AM
Drop the weapon specialisation bonus feat. This is a fighter-only feat, so i can't see why a diplomat could have access to it. The fact that he's not so bad in fighting is already figured by his BAB and HD.

I'll also give up the bonus stats (I can't remember of one WotC prestige class granting such a thing).

Why does the class grant an hawk form, is it a symbol of the god ?

Maybe you should consider giving some abilities more centered on negotiation ?

kirellagen
2004-07-29, 03:04 PM
Thanks for the suggestions!

Yes, the hawk is the symbol of Kirellagen.
I want to keep the ability increases, not so much that they are critical to the class but I like the flavor. This is why I did not post this class on the WOTC boards. I agree that the Weapon Spec. feat is unbalanced, so I will change that to a more negotiation-oriented feature, as you mused.

kire

Zherog
2004-07-29, 05:51 PM
Nice class. Comments below. :)


<<snipped flavor text>>

Good flavor. Explains the class well.


HD: d8


Requirements:
Alignment: Any Good or True Neutral.
Skills: 8 ranks in Diplomacy, 4 ranks Bluff.
Feat: Skill Focus (Diplomacy).
Special: Must be blessed at a temple of Kirellagen.

Hit Die is good.

Why only True Neutral? Why not other neutral alignments?

Is Bluff really the best skill for this class? Might Sense Motive be a better choice?


Class Skills:
The Ambassador of Kirellagen's class skills (and the key ability for each skill)
are Bluff (Cha), Decipher Script (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Perform (Cha), Sense Motive (Wis), Speak Language (Int).
Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.

minor technical nit pick: the ability mod for Speak Language should be (N/A) not (int).

Some of the class skills don't make sense to me. Decipher Script seems to be the worst offender, though I kinda, sorta question Perform, too. And...

* gets on Soap Box *
Craft and Profession should be class skills for every class
* gets off soap box *

Lastly, you either need to add more class skills or reduce the number of skill points. A human with an 18 Int could max every class skill. Some skills you could add would be Knowledge (Nobility and Royalty), Knowledge (Religion) and Knowedge (Local). Add those three along with Craft and Profession and your 4+Int works OK.

A general comment on your abilities - all of them need to be "typed" (Su, Sp or Ex).


Way with Words: The Ambassador get a bonus to Bluff and Diplomacy equal to his AoK level.

You should give this bonus a type, because it'll end up being so large. The most common type for this is Competence.

Also, if you switch to Sense Motive in the pre-reqs, I'd alter this as well.


Familiar: An AoK can obtain a familiar. Doing so takes 24 hours and uses up magical materials that cost 100 gp. An AoK may have any familiar that is available to a wizard or sorcerer. A familiar is a magical beast that resembles a small animal and is unusually tough and intelligent. The creature serves as a companion and servant. The AoK chooses the kind of familiar he gets. As the AoK advances in level, his familiar also increases in power.
If the familiar dies or is dismissed by the AoK, the AoK must attempt a DC 15 Fortitude saving throw. Failure means he loses 200 experience points per class level; success reduces the loss to one-half that amount. However, an AoK's experience point total can never go below 0 as the result of a familiar's demise or dismissal. A slain or dismissed familiar cannot be replaced for a year and day. A slain familiar can be raised from the dead just as a character can be, and it does not lose a level or a Constitution point when this happy event occurs.
A character with more than one class that grants a familiar may have only one familiar at a time.

If you already have a familiar from another class, do the levels stack for determining abilities?

[quote author=kirellagen link=board=features;num=1091062045;start=0#0 date=07/28/04 at 20:47:25]Initiative Bonus: The AoK gains a +2 misc. bonus to initiative.

I don't believe there is a "misc" bonus type. ;) Of course, you can certainly invent a new type. What about using Insight, though?


Hawk Form: At 4th level, the AoK gains the ability to turn into a hawk and back once per day. Changing form is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. The AoK can do this twice per day at 6th level, three times per day at 8th level, and at will at 10th level.

You'll need to elaborate more. The easiest way to elaborate is to say, "This ability functions as a druid's wild shape ability." If you don't want to clone Wild Shape, you'll need to do a lot of specifiying of details - what happens to items, what abilities do you keep, what abilities do you lose, etc?

Also, how long does the change last?


Uncanny Parry: When fighting with a scimitar and light or no armor, an AoK gets +1 to AC and +2 to Ref saves.

Interesting mechanic for Parry. Much better than others I've seen that get needlessly complicated. I'd recommend making the bonus type a Dodge bonus, though.


Conviction: The AoK can retry a failed Bluff or Diplomacy check. However, the AoK gets a -2 penalty to the check, doubling for every retry on the same check. For instance, the AoK gets a -2 penalty on the first retry, a -4 penalty on the second retry, and a -16 penalty on the fourth retry. An AoK cannot make another retry if the penalty equals or exeeds his ranks in the skill.

You know, I had to go look at the rules because I thought you could already do this. Bluff is vague, but implies you can't. Diplomacy is vague, but implies you kinda, sorta can. Given that, you're really just creating a mechanic for something that's (sort of) in the rules already. Not that it's a bad thing, but I wonder if it shouldn't be a lower ability in the class?

One thing you will need to clarify - what kind of action? Can it be done the same round as the failure? Is it a standard action the next round, or something else?


Blessing of the Clouds: <<snipped>>
Kirellagen's Blessing: <<snipped>>


I'm not opposed to giving out stat bumps in a class (heck, I've done it myself). I'd recommend, though, that you spread them out - instead of granting a +2 each time, grant a +1 twice. Levels 6 and 8 look like good places. Also, using the same type of "bump" that you gain on levels is a bit too good, since it stacks with absolutely everything. I'd recommend you make them Inherent bonuses - that's the same bonus that's granted by Wish and the various tomes. A +2 of this type will save the character 55,000 gold pieces for each one!

***

Overall, I liked your class. It didn't quite feel like a negotiator, though. For example, what does being a good negotiator have to do with having a higher dex, or a better initiative? Why is the Hawk Form pertinent? If the form of the Hawk ties to the God somehow, I'd mention it in the ability. If not, I'd suggest you change it to a white dove rather than a hawk.

Nice job! :)

kirellagen
2004-07-29, 08:08 PM
Ok, that was a big edit. Thanks for the help, this class is shaping up well. I changed all the things you said exept a few: The Hawk is a symbol of Kirellagen, and I added the wild shape note, but I left out wild shape's "Gain HP as if resting for a day" part since at tenth level the AoK would be able to heal all damage by changing back and forth.
Also I left perform on the skill list because:
*Gets on soap box*
"I think all classes should have perform!" (No, I'm not kidding)
*Gets off soap box*
Also, I decided not to include CN and LN in the prerequisites because I don't like the idea of a CN negotiator, and I was trying to balance the alignment thing so I left LN out too.
I gave the ambassador the plus to init and Dex so he could get away if things go wrong, or attack if needed. I don't like all the combat-oriented stuff, but I think without it this is just a flavor class, not one designed to use. In a perfect world, a good class would not need combat abilities, but I don't think that DnD 3.0 or 3.5 can support that yet.
I think that's about all. Thanks for the help!

Kire
;D

Zherog
2004-07-29, 08:42 PM
If a hawk is a symbol of the god, then it's good enough for me.

heh. If I can have my skill soap box, so can you. ;)

It looks as though you're missing the entry for Reflex Save at 8th level. it's causing some format problems on your table.

kirellagen
2004-07-30, 11:02 AM
Thanks! With all that editing of that post, I accidentally removed the will and ref saves. Also, I had Conviction in there twice. ;) It's still a little messy, but it's as good as I can make it, with my paltry computer skills. ::)

Kire

kirellagen
2004-08-12, 10:13 AM
Yay! I've been unlocked!

Kire ;D