PDA

View Full Version : The calculator (base class, PEACH)



InaVegt
2006-03-25, 03:27 PM
Allright, this is basically the opposite of a barbarian.

Alignment: any lawfull
HD d4
Class skills: Knowledge(all), Decipher script, Profession, Craft, Spot, Listen, Sense motive.
Skills: 2 + int mod
Bab: +0
Spellcasting: as wizard
Saves: as wizard
{table]lvl Class abilities 1 Calculating mode 1/day 2 Calculating anti-sneak 3 4 Calculating mode 2/day 5 6 7 Spell resistance 8 Calculating mode 3/day 9 10 11 Greater Calculating mode {table]12 Calculating mode 4/day 13 14 15 16 Calculating mode 5/day 17 Tireless Calculating mode 18 19 20 Calculating mode 6/day, Mighty calculating mode[/table]

Calculating mode: when you activate calculating mode your muscles cease to function, except for the ones used to produce sound and/or to survive. You gain still spell added to all your spells with no cost and you gain a +4 bonus to all your mental stats, a +2 bonus on your calculator caster level and a +2 bonus on fortitude saves. you automatically fail all reflex saves and lose your dex bonus to armorclass. you can keep this going for a total number of rounds equal to your (improved) wisdom bonus + 3. Calculating mode is tiring and thus you are fatigued if calculating mode is over.
Calculating anti-sneak: from 2nd level on you can't be sneak attacked by rogues who are less than four levels higher than you.
Spell resistance: from 7th level and higher you gain spell resistance equal to your calculator level + 5
Greater calculating mode: from 11th level and higher your bonuses on mental stats increase to +6, your bonus to your caster level increases to +3 and your bonus on fortitude saves increases to +3.
Tireless calculating mode: from 17th level and higher you are no longer fatigued after calculating mode.
Mighty calculating mode: from 20th level and higher your bonuses on mental stats increase to +8, your bonus to your caster level increases to +4 and your bonus on fortitude saves increases to +4.

Gildes
2006-03-25, 03:53 PM
Very interesting and quite an amusing read. I don't think it's balanced, though. Supreme arcane power in exchange for almost certain death? It sounds like the calculator would be helpless in calculating mode, so the enemies could coup de grace her. If the calculator can somehow counter that +8 to all mental stats and +4 to caster level is just way, way, way too much. Either dead or way overpowered IMO. I don't have any good idea how to fix that. An interesting idea nevertheless, though.

Altair_the_Vexed
2006-03-25, 03:54 PM
This looks very interesting - somewhat like the Mentat from Dune. With a little cleanup and clarification on the benefits and penalties...

Though the charater uses the Wizard's spell list and casting table, I assume they don't get to specialise..?

Calculator mode - adding to calculator caster level gives you no bonus spells, right? Similarly, adding to INT gives you no bonus spells, as you have to memorise spells as normal, yeah? There is no movement possible during calculator mode, I guess. You'll need to specify the duration of the fatigue after dropping calculator mode, too. I suspect it ought to be half the number of rounds spent in calculator mode.

What about adding a Concentrated Calculator Mode - the ability to use Calculator mode while concentrating (DC20)?
In this mode, any spells that require concentration, and any concentration checks have their concentration DC increased by 5 - but at least you get to move around slowly. You're still hampered like before, but mobile. I'd say this could get added at 9th, with Greater Concentrated Calculator Mode at 18th. Using Concentrated Calculator Mode counts towards the number of times Calculator Mode can be used per day.
Just a suggestion.

Altair_the_Vexed
2006-03-25, 03:56 PM
Very interesting and quite an amusing read. I don't think it's balanced, though. Supreme arcane power in exchange for almost certain death? It sounds like the calculator would be helpless in calculating mode, so the enemies could coup de grace her. If the calculator can somehow counter that +8 to all mental stats and +4 to caster level is just way, way, way too much. Either dead or way overpowered IMO. I don't have any good idea how to fix that. An interesting idea nevertheless, though.


I got the impression this isn't meant to be a combat character... Probably best used with a host of defensive minions.

Tomada
2006-03-25, 06:26 PM
but if he can't move, how can he cast spells? Only still spells, then?

Altair_the_Vexed
2006-03-25, 06:31 PM
but if he can't move, how can he cast spells? Only still spells, then?
That's what it says, yes.

Ted_Stryker
2006-03-25, 06:57 PM
The Transdimensional Spell feat + some sort of etherealness might cause some real havoc. I guess you have to be pretty high level to be able to do that, but if the opponents of the calculator can't follow or otherwise affect ethereal creatures, the penalties for the calculating mode go right out the door.

Also, I think Spellcraft needs to be on the list of class skills.

InaVegt
2006-03-26, 05:22 AM
Very interesting and quite an amusing read. I don't think it's balanced, though. Supreme arcane power in exchange for almost certain death? It sounds like the calculator would be helpless in calculating mode, so the enemies could coup de grace her. If the calculator can somehow counter that +8 to all mental stats and +4 to caster level is just way, way, way too much. Either dead or way overpowered IMO. I don't have any good idea how to fix that. An interesting idea nevertheless, though.


well, in calculating mode you can move to survive, you only lose your dex bonus to AC and fail reflex saves.

And this class was inspired by a character of mine (halfling wizard) that was pretty slow in comparison to the other party members (monk/cleric and barbarian) and the barbarian bought a cart to pull my char in. the specialization is something i hadn't thought of yet, i think i won't allow it. I might add concentrated calculater mode.

Gildes
2006-03-26, 05:55 AM
well, in calculating mode you can move to survive, you only lose your dex bonus to AC and fail reflex saves.Ahh, I read that as allowing for breathing, heatbeat and such only. You should clarify this. The main problem with losing dex to AC is sneak attack, and the calculator gains pretty much immunity to all SAs, wether in calculating mode or not, if I read the description correctly. That's way better than getting dex to AC sometimes. Auto failing ref saves is a bit of a limitation, but most dex saves are against energy damage and you can get resistance or even immunity against that. Overall clearly overpowered IMO. And I don't think you can balance it wit adding limitations that don't affect the spellcasting power. Wizards are all about spellcasting, they don't really have anything else to give up (except for the bonus feats, which don't come anywhere close to balancing this). I think you have to knock down the boni.