Boci
2009-09-09, 06:55 AM
This was my attempt to make something similar to Kakuzu. For those of you who do not watch the series, he has multiple hearts, each one associated with a different element or energy.
Power level wise, this is aimed at being a good choice for a blasting sorcerer. However, it is built using my own version of the sorcerer, which gives the class a bonus metamagic feat at levels 5, 10, 15 and 20, as well as removing the delayed casting.
P.S. If anyone can tell me a better way to word some of the more chunky abilities I would be grateful. Hopefully with the “for example”s it is still clear.
MAGE OF THE FOUR HEARTS
Hit Die: D4
Requirement:
Spells: Arcane Caster level 5, Ability to spontaneously cast 3rd level spells, must know at least 1 spell of each spell level (expect cantrips) of a single energy type (acid, cold, electricity or fire)
Skills: Knowledge (arcane): 8 ranks
Feat: Energy substitution (the other three not already chosen in spells known)
Class Skills: Same as sorcerer
Skills per Level: 2 + Int Modifier
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special |Spells per Day/Spells Known
1st|
+0|
+0|
+0|
+2|2nd Heart, Refocus Affinity (move action) | +1 level of existing spellcasting class
2nd|
+1|
+0|
+0|
+3|Heart up your Sleeve|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
3rd|
+1|
+1|
+1|
+3| 3rd Heart|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
4th|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+4| Army of One (full round action) |+1 level of existing spellcasting class
5th|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+4| 4th Heart|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
6th|
+3|
+2|
+2|
+5| Army of One (standard action) |+1 level of existing spellcasting class
7th|
+3|
+2|
+2|
+5|Refocus Affinity (swift action) |+1 level of existing spellcasting class
8th|
+4|
+2|
+2|
+6|Army of One (move action) |+1 level of existing spellcasting class
9th|
+4|
+3|
+3|
+6|Refocus Affinity (free action) |+1 level of existing spellcasting class
10th|
+5|
+3|
+3|
+7|Army of One (swift action) | -
[/table]
Class Features:
2nd Heart (Ex): A mage of the four hearts learn how to acquire new heart, and tie a specific energy to each.
Upon entering the prestige class, they transfer the energy spells used to meet the requirements the PrC into their heart, giving the organ an affinity with that particular energy type.
Additionally, they learn the secrets of a ritual to absorb new hearts. At first level, they gain a second heart and may give this one a new energy affinity and new spells. Gaining a new heart involves a ritual that takes 1 hour, and the heart of a sentient creature.
Each heart can hold a maximum of 2 spells of each level (two 1st, two 2nd ect).
For example: To meet the requirements of this class, Harken, a 5th level sorcerer, includes lesser orb of fire, burning hands, scorching ray and fireball as his spells known. Upon becoming a mage of the four hearts he transfers the four fire spells into his own heart, granting it fire affinity. His own heart can still hold a 2nd and 3rd level fire spell, and as he learns higher level spells he can add two of them as well.
Additionally, he undergoes the ritual to absorb a second heart. He may now choose find new spells into his second heart. These spells could be of the energy type acid, cold or electricity. Harken can use scrolls to learn these new spells, but only for spells immediately transferred into one of his hearts.
Harken has acquired a scroll of shocking grasp and seeking ray. He transfers both into his second heart, granting it electrical affinity. His second heart can hold an additional 1st and second level spell, as well as two 3rd level spells.
A Mage of Four Hearts gains a new heart at every odd numbered class level, until he has four hearts at level 5th level. Each heart must be absorbed in a separate ritual, and all hearts much have different energy affinities and they can only be acid, cold, electricity or fire.
Refocus Affinity (Su): A Mage of the Four Hearts can, as a move equivalent action, switch from one heart to another. For example, Harken could swap his fire heart for his electricity one. When he does this, he looses access to the spell transferred into the fire heart (burning hands, lesser orb of fire, scorching ray and fireball) but gains access to the spells in his electricity heart (shocking grasp and seeking ray).
At level 7, you can refocus affinity as a swift action. At level 9, you can do so as a free action. However, a mage of the four hearts can never use the energy substituion feats he possesses.
Heart up your Sleeve (Su): If you are ever killed by failing a fortitude save that would leave you in a condition in which raise dead can still bring you back to life, you do not actually die. Instead, you fall unconscious for 1 round, and the heart you are currently using is killed. After one round, you may choose a new heart to retake its position and act as if you had not failed the save. You cannot refocus your affinity to the lost heart or use it for Army of One (see latter) until it is replaced with the ritual. In such a case, the new heart has all the spells the old one did.
When you loose a heart from this ability, you also loose 2 point of constitution that cannot be healed until the heart is replaced.
Army of One (Su): At 4th level, your hearts begin to advance and can act independently. You may separate yourself from a number of your heart. The amount of time it takes depends on how many hearts you separate. For 1 heart, it takes a swift action. For two hearts, it takes a move equivalent action and for three hearts it takes a standard action. The hearts appear as fleshy masses adjacent to you. They have the exact same statistics as you, expect they have only a quarter of your hit points. (You do not however loose hit points when using Army of One). The following limitations apply to the use of this ability: you must keep at least 1 heart inside you and the hearts cannot be out of your body for more than 5 minutes. If they do, they collapse into a pile of flesh and cannot take any action. You can reabsorb adjacent hearts as a swift action. The hearts can be targeted by attacks. If they die, the heart if affectively killed and must be replaced before it can be used again (but you can retain the spells transferred into it). When a heart dies, you loose 2 point of constitution that cannot be healed until it is replaced.
When you separate the hearts from your body your magic becomes diluted. For each heart that leaves you, you take a penalty to your CL. If you caster level is brought lower than the minimum required to cast your highest level spells, you loose access to them.
You can command every heart separate from you within 30ft as a full round action to move your speed or cast a spell with a maximum casting time of 1 standard action. The hearts have a caster level equal to half of your, and thus can only cast lower level spells. Additionally, they can only cast the spells you have transferred into them. At level 6, you can command the hearts as a standard action. At level 8, you can do so as a move equivalent action and at level 10 it takes but a swift action.
Any spells the hearts cast consumes one of your spell slots.
So, how did it turn out?
Power level wise, this is aimed at being a good choice for a blasting sorcerer. However, it is built using my own version of the sorcerer, which gives the class a bonus metamagic feat at levels 5, 10, 15 and 20, as well as removing the delayed casting.
P.S. If anyone can tell me a better way to word some of the more chunky abilities I would be grateful. Hopefully with the “for example”s it is still clear.
MAGE OF THE FOUR HEARTS
Hit Die: D4
Requirement:
Spells: Arcane Caster level 5, Ability to spontaneously cast 3rd level spells, must know at least 1 spell of each spell level (expect cantrips) of a single energy type (acid, cold, electricity or fire)
Skills: Knowledge (arcane): 8 ranks
Feat: Energy substitution (the other three not already chosen in spells known)
Class Skills: Same as sorcerer
Skills per Level: 2 + Int Modifier
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special |Spells per Day/Spells Known
1st|
+0|
+0|
+0|
+2|2nd Heart, Refocus Affinity (move action) | +1 level of existing spellcasting class
2nd|
+1|
+0|
+0|
+3|Heart up your Sleeve|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
3rd|
+1|
+1|
+1|
+3| 3rd Heart|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
4th|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+4| Army of One (full round action) |+1 level of existing spellcasting class
5th|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+4| 4th Heart|+1 level of existing spellcasting class
6th|
+3|
+2|
+2|
+5| Army of One (standard action) |+1 level of existing spellcasting class
7th|
+3|
+2|
+2|
+5|Refocus Affinity (swift action) |+1 level of existing spellcasting class
8th|
+4|
+2|
+2|
+6|Army of One (move action) |+1 level of existing spellcasting class
9th|
+4|
+3|
+3|
+6|Refocus Affinity (free action) |+1 level of existing spellcasting class
10th|
+5|
+3|
+3|
+7|Army of One (swift action) | -
[/table]
Class Features:
2nd Heart (Ex): A mage of the four hearts learn how to acquire new heart, and tie a specific energy to each.
Upon entering the prestige class, they transfer the energy spells used to meet the requirements the PrC into their heart, giving the organ an affinity with that particular energy type.
Additionally, they learn the secrets of a ritual to absorb new hearts. At first level, they gain a second heart and may give this one a new energy affinity and new spells. Gaining a new heart involves a ritual that takes 1 hour, and the heart of a sentient creature.
Each heart can hold a maximum of 2 spells of each level (two 1st, two 2nd ect).
For example: To meet the requirements of this class, Harken, a 5th level sorcerer, includes lesser orb of fire, burning hands, scorching ray and fireball as his spells known. Upon becoming a mage of the four hearts he transfers the four fire spells into his own heart, granting it fire affinity. His own heart can still hold a 2nd and 3rd level fire spell, and as he learns higher level spells he can add two of them as well.
Additionally, he undergoes the ritual to absorb a second heart. He may now choose find new spells into his second heart. These spells could be of the energy type acid, cold or electricity. Harken can use scrolls to learn these new spells, but only for spells immediately transferred into one of his hearts.
Harken has acquired a scroll of shocking grasp and seeking ray. He transfers both into his second heart, granting it electrical affinity. His second heart can hold an additional 1st and second level spell, as well as two 3rd level spells.
A Mage of Four Hearts gains a new heart at every odd numbered class level, until he has four hearts at level 5th level. Each heart must be absorbed in a separate ritual, and all hearts much have different energy affinities and they can only be acid, cold, electricity or fire.
Refocus Affinity (Su): A Mage of the Four Hearts can, as a move equivalent action, switch from one heart to another. For example, Harken could swap his fire heart for his electricity one. When he does this, he looses access to the spell transferred into the fire heart (burning hands, lesser orb of fire, scorching ray and fireball) but gains access to the spells in his electricity heart (shocking grasp and seeking ray).
At level 7, you can refocus affinity as a swift action. At level 9, you can do so as a free action. However, a mage of the four hearts can never use the energy substituion feats he possesses.
Heart up your Sleeve (Su): If you are ever killed by failing a fortitude save that would leave you in a condition in which raise dead can still bring you back to life, you do not actually die. Instead, you fall unconscious for 1 round, and the heart you are currently using is killed. After one round, you may choose a new heart to retake its position and act as if you had not failed the save. You cannot refocus your affinity to the lost heart or use it for Army of One (see latter) until it is replaced with the ritual. In such a case, the new heart has all the spells the old one did.
When you loose a heart from this ability, you also loose 2 point of constitution that cannot be healed until the heart is replaced.
Army of One (Su): At 4th level, your hearts begin to advance and can act independently. You may separate yourself from a number of your heart. The amount of time it takes depends on how many hearts you separate. For 1 heart, it takes a swift action. For two hearts, it takes a move equivalent action and for three hearts it takes a standard action. The hearts appear as fleshy masses adjacent to you. They have the exact same statistics as you, expect they have only a quarter of your hit points. (You do not however loose hit points when using Army of One). The following limitations apply to the use of this ability: you must keep at least 1 heart inside you and the hearts cannot be out of your body for more than 5 minutes. If they do, they collapse into a pile of flesh and cannot take any action. You can reabsorb adjacent hearts as a swift action. The hearts can be targeted by attacks. If they die, the heart if affectively killed and must be replaced before it can be used again (but you can retain the spells transferred into it). When a heart dies, you loose 2 point of constitution that cannot be healed until it is replaced.
When you separate the hearts from your body your magic becomes diluted. For each heart that leaves you, you take a penalty to your CL. If you caster level is brought lower than the minimum required to cast your highest level spells, you loose access to them.
You can command every heart separate from you within 30ft as a full round action to move your speed or cast a spell with a maximum casting time of 1 standard action. The hearts have a caster level equal to half of your, and thus can only cast lower level spells. Additionally, they can only cast the spells you have transferred into them. At level 6, you can command the hearts as a standard action. At level 8, you can do so as a move equivalent action and at level 10 it takes but a swift action.
Any spells the hearts cast consumes one of your spell slots.
So, how did it turn out?