Calmar
2009-06-20, 04:36 PM
Hi. :smallsmile:
The crossbow as it is seems to me to be completely inferior when compared to the (composite) longbow. In fact no one I know likes this weapon and the way it works it is mostly useless as soon as you get more than one attack. Therefore I've created this PrC. Please give me your critique. :smallsmile:
If you wonder about the Swift Reload ability, I understand myself that this somewhat stretches plausibility, since a heavy crossbow obviously needs to be winded up and everybody knows that you'd really have a hard time doing that up to three times in six seconds. On the other hand, a character of 16th or higher level can load, aim and fire her longbow four times (or more with the right feat/s) in one round, which doesn't sound too realistic to me, either. Therefore, in case of doubt, this is simply a balance-thing.
The Iron Towers mercenaries are a company of crossbowmen, inspired by the free companies that existed in 14th century Italy. Originally I had the impression that the pavise, the shield used by crossbowmen (see below), would be something like a tower shield with an arrow slit. That was my inspiration for the company's name. My research proved me wrong, but I still quite like the name.
Anyways, here it is, my hopefully balanced prestige class (including a new item!):
The Iron Towers Elite
Iron Towers elites are the heart of the Iron Towers Mercenary company and only the most capable members of this organisation may join their ranks. Masters in the use of the crossbow, the elites use this weapon with an accuracy and efficiency that surpasses the abilities of ordinary crossbowmen by far. They are experts in the defense of strategic points and advance under cover. Most Iron Towers elites are fighters, since they have the fastest means of meeting the requirements and gain the most out of this class, although a few fighter/clerics of martial deities and fighter/rogues chose this path as well. Paladins never become Iron Towers elites since they regard both the profession of a mercenary and the use of ranged weapon as dishonorable. Iron Towers elites form small strike forces to as-sault heavily defended positions or lead squads of other mercenaries during attacks or sieges.
NPC Iron Towers elites are commonly encountered in military campaigns that involve the Iron Towers mercenary company.
Hit Dice: d10
Requirements
To qualify to become an Iron Towers elite, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Alignment: Any non-chaotic.
Base Attack Bonus: +6
Skills: Intimidate 5 ranks.
Feats: Iron Will, Point Blank Shot, Rapid Reload, Weapon Focus (heavy crossbow).
Special: Must be a member of the Iron Tower Merchant Company and must be proficient with heavy shields.
{table=head]Level | Base Attack Bonus | Fort Save | Ref Save | Will Save | Special
1st | +1 | +2 | +0 | +0 | Swift reload, superior armor proficiency (max. Dex +1)
2nd | +2 | +3 | +0 | +0 | Iron tower +1, marksman
3rd | +3 | +3 | +1 | +1 | Superior armor proficiency (max. Dex +2)
4th | +4 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Crossbow specialist, iron tower +2
5th | +5 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Swift reload, superior armor proficiency (max. Dex +3)
[/table]
Class Skills
The Iron Towers elites class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Ride (Dex), Swim (Str).
Skill Points at 1st Level: (2 + Int modifier) x 4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Class Features
Swift Reload (Ex): As part of a Full Round Attack, an Iron Towers elite may perform a second attack with a heavy cross-bow at a 5 penalty. At 5th level he gains a third attack with a 10 penalty.
Iron Tower (Ex): The cover bonus to AC an Iron Towers elite receives while using a deployed pavise (see below) in-creases by +1 at 2nd level and +2 at 4th level. In addition, an Iron Towers elite may position and pick up a pavise as a Move Action, rather than a Standard Action.
Marksman (Ex): An Iron Towers elite may add 1/2 of his Dexterity bonus on any damage dealt with a crossbow.
Superior Armor Proficiency (Ex): Extensive training in the use of crossbows while being armored allows the Iron Tow-ers elite to use light and medium armor with greater efficiency. The maximum Dex bonus of any light or medium armor the Iron Towers elite wears increases by +1 at 1st level, +2 at 3rd level and +3 at 5th level.
Crossbow Specialist (Ex): An Iron Towers elite deals damage with any crossbow as if it were one size category larger. In addition, he gains a +1 competence bonus on attacks made with a heavy crossbow. This bonus stacks with the bonus from the Weapon Focus and Greater Weapon Focus feats.
New Item
Pavise (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Balestriere1.jpg): The pavise is a large convex shield used to protect the entire body. While being carried, a pavise functions similar to a heavy shield. However, a pavise can be deployed in the ground with a spike attached to its bottom, granting a +4 cover bonus to AC against ranged attacks. The enhancement bonus of a pavise is added on the cover bonus it provides. Positioning and picking up a pavise is a standard action that provokes attacks of opportunity.
You can crouch behind it, to use it as total cover against ranged attacks, though you must give up you attacks to do so. Crossbowmen typically use a pavise that way while reloading their weapons.
{table=head] Armor | Cost | Armor/Shield Bonus | Maximum Dex Bonus | Armor Check Penalty | Arcane Spell Failure Chance | (30 ft.) | (20 ft.) | Weight
Pavise | 25 gp | +2 | | 3 | 20% | | | 15 lb. [/table]
The crossbow as it is seems to me to be completely inferior when compared to the (composite) longbow. In fact no one I know likes this weapon and the way it works it is mostly useless as soon as you get more than one attack. Therefore I've created this PrC. Please give me your critique. :smallsmile:
If you wonder about the Swift Reload ability, I understand myself that this somewhat stretches plausibility, since a heavy crossbow obviously needs to be winded up and everybody knows that you'd really have a hard time doing that up to three times in six seconds. On the other hand, a character of 16th or higher level can load, aim and fire her longbow four times (or more with the right feat/s) in one round, which doesn't sound too realistic to me, either. Therefore, in case of doubt, this is simply a balance-thing.
The Iron Towers mercenaries are a company of crossbowmen, inspired by the free companies that existed in 14th century Italy. Originally I had the impression that the pavise, the shield used by crossbowmen (see below), would be something like a tower shield with an arrow slit. That was my inspiration for the company's name. My research proved me wrong, but I still quite like the name.
Anyways, here it is, my hopefully balanced prestige class (including a new item!):
The Iron Towers Elite
Iron Towers elites are the heart of the Iron Towers Mercenary company and only the most capable members of this organisation may join their ranks. Masters in the use of the crossbow, the elites use this weapon with an accuracy and efficiency that surpasses the abilities of ordinary crossbowmen by far. They are experts in the defense of strategic points and advance under cover. Most Iron Towers elites are fighters, since they have the fastest means of meeting the requirements and gain the most out of this class, although a few fighter/clerics of martial deities and fighter/rogues chose this path as well. Paladins never become Iron Towers elites since they regard both the profession of a mercenary and the use of ranged weapon as dishonorable. Iron Towers elites form small strike forces to as-sault heavily defended positions or lead squads of other mercenaries during attacks or sieges.
NPC Iron Towers elites are commonly encountered in military campaigns that involve the Iron Towers mercenary company.
Hit Dice: d10
Requirements
To qualify to become an Iron Towers elite, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Alignment: Any non-chaotic.
Base Attack Bonus: +6
Skills: Intimidate 5 ranks.
Feats: Iron Will, Point Blank Shot, Rapid Reload, Weapon Focus (heavy crossbow).
Special: Must be a member of the Iron Tower Merchant Company and must be proficient with heavy shields.
{table=head]Level | Base Attack Bonus | Fort Save | Ref Save | Will Save | Special
1st | +1 | +2 | +0 | +0 | Swift reload, superior armor proficiency (max. Dex +1)
2nd | +2 | +3 | +0 | +0 | Iron tower +1, marksman
3rd | +3 | +3 | +1 | +1 | Superior armor proficiency (max. Dex +2)
4th | +4 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Crossbow specialist, iron tower +2
5th | +5 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Swift reload, superior armor proficiency (max. Dex +3)
[/table]
Class Skills
The Iron Towers elites class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Ride (Dex), Swim (Str).
Skill Points at 1st Level: (2 + Int modifier) x 4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Class Features
Swift Reload (Ex): As part of a Full Round Attack, an Iron Towers elite may perform a second attack with a heavy cross-bow at a 5 penalty. At 5th level he gains a third attack with a 10 penalty.
Iron Tower (Ex): The cover bonus to AC an Iron Towers elite receives while using a deployed pavise (see below) in-creases by +1 at 2nd level and +2 at 4th level. In addition, an Iron Towers elite may position and pick up a pavise as a Move Action, rather than a Standard Action.
Marksman (Ex): An Iron Towers elite may add 1/2 of his Dexterity bonus on any damage dealt with a crossbow.
Superior Armor Proficiency (Ex): Extensive training in the use of crossbows while being armored allows the Iron Tow-ers elite to use light and medium armor with greater efficiency. The maximum Dex bonus of any light or medium armor the Iron Towers elite wears increases by +1 at 1st level, +2 at 3rd level and +3 at 5th level.
Crossbow Specialist (Ex): An Iron Towers elite deals damage with any crossbow as if it were one size category larger. In addition, he gains a +1 competence bonus on attacks made with a heavy crossbow. This bonus stacks with the bonus from the Weapon Focus and Greater Weapon Focus feats.
New Item
Pavise (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Balestriere1.jpg): The pavise is a large convex shield used to protect the entire body. While being carried, a pavise functions similar to a heavy shield. However, a pavise can be deployed in the ground with a spike attached to its bottom, granting a +4 cover bonus to AC against ranged attacks. The enhancement bonus of a pavise is added on the cover bonus it provides. Positioning and picking up a pavise is a standard action that provokes attacks of opportunity.
You can crouch behind it, to use it as total cover against ranged attacks, though you must give up you attacks to do so. Crossbowmen typically use a pavise that way while reloading their weapons.
{table=head] Armor | Cost | Armor/Shield Bonus | Maximum Dex Bonus | Armor Check Penalty | Arcane Spell Failure Chance | (30 ft.) | (20 ft.) | Weight
Pavise | 25 gp | +2 | | 3 | 20% | | | 15 lb. [/table]