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View Full Version : (3.5) (ToB) I-need-a-better-class title (VERY W.I.P.)



DracoDei
2010-01-03, 11:24 AM
Yes, I know my formatting pretty much reeks here, working with a less than optimal computer situation and trying to make sure my work doesn't disappear...

Student of Posture
Hit-Die: d10
Skill Points: 4+Int. Mod. (x4 at first level)
Class Skills: All associated skills for disciplines chosen, plus Balance, Knowledge(Local), and Knowledge(Religion), and Martial Lore.
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|Stances

1st|
+1|
+2|
+2|
+0|Bonus Feat|2

2nd|
+2|
+3|
+3|
+0|Stance Insight +1|3

3rd|
+3|
+3|
+3|
+1|-|3

4th|
+4|
+4|
+4|
+1|Bonus Feat|3

5th|
+5|
+4|
+4|
+1|-|4

6th|
+6|
+5|
+5|
+2|Class Ability|4

7th|
+7|
+5|
+5|
+2|Stance Insight +2|5

8th|
+8|
+6|
+6|
+2|Class Ability|5

9th|
+9|
+6|
+6|
+3|Bonus Feat|6

10th|
+10|
+7|
+7|
+3|Stance Mastery|6

11th|
+11|
+7|
+7|
+3|-|7

12th|
+12|
+8|
+8|
+4|Bonus Feat|7

13th|
+13|
+8|
+8|
+4|Stance Insight +3|8

14th|
+14|
+9|
+9|
+4|-|8

15th|
+15|
+9|
+9|
+5|-|9

16th|
+16|
+10|
+10|
+5|Bonus Feat|9

17th|
+17|
+10|
+10|
+5|Stance Insight +4|10

18th|
+18|
+11|
+11|
+6|-|10

19th|
+19|
+11|
+11|
+6|-|11

20th|
+20|
+12|
+12|
+6|Greater Stance Mastery|11[/table]

Bonus Feats: As per fighter bonus feats, including access to Fighter-only feats. Master of Posture levels stack with all other applicable levels for determining equivalent fighter level.

Disciplines and Stances: At first level a Student of Posture selects any 9 disciplines to be his class disciplines for this class. He must still meet all special requirements for eligibility for those disciplines (demonic posession, ability to breath water, whatever...) to be allowed to select them.
For purposes of Stances, Student of Posture counts as an Initiating Class, for purposes of manuevers, Student of Posture counts as a Non-Initiating Class.

Stance Insight: For purposes of meeting the requirements of a stance, or feat, your number of manuevers known in a given discipline increases by the amount given (even from zero). This has no benefit for learning maneuvers. You also add this bonus to martial Lore checks to identify a stance.

Stance Mastery: ((As per the Warblade Capstone, use 2 stances at once))

Greater Stance Mastery: ((3 Stances at once now))

Ashtagon
2010-01-03, 11:33 AM
This class is begging to be called the "poser" :smalltongue:

DracoDei
2010-01-03, 11:42 AM
This class is begging to be called the "poser" :smalltongue:

In some ways it certainly is... but I want to make it LESS silly.

I think the number in the chart are done now, and I have added the class skills and clarified that the feats are as per a Fighter. Given this, do you (or anyone else brave enough to put up with the poor formatting) have any comments on the balance or suggestions as far as flavor? Should this be a PrC, perhaps along the lines of Master Specialist?

Djinn_in_Tonic
2010-01-03, 11:42 AM
I suspect you'll find this to be incredibly weak when compared to most classes commonly referred to as "Tier 1, 2, or 3." It has a decent variety of stances possible, but stances, while useful, are fairly weak compared to strikes. With only 1-3 active at once and no real way to increase offense (lacking even the fighter's large number of bonus feats), your class has little to offer a balanced party in offense, defense, or utility.

Just my thoughts. Your mileage may vary.

DracoDei
2010-01-03, 11:48 AM
Well, the idea was that they could put all their feats into offense and let the Stances cover when they need extra defense... but I guess most fighters spend most of their feats on offense anyway?

I could easily see giving them more feats... and if I really gotta I could even see them getting a FEW maneuvers at later levels...

My desired point of balance is the three ToB classes (or slightly lower in a pinch)... I don't know which classes fall where on the Tier system.

Edit: I could also give some bonuses (perhaps to a given discipline selected each time the ability is gained, like with the Sword-Sage class features) to initiator level and/or skill ranks (including any skill checks) for the purposes of stances. This would let them get fire-immunity slightly earlier and such.

Should I put in some chances to swap out stances like you get with maneuvers?

Djinn: Are you saying that cranking the progression up so it goes smoothly to 4 or even 5 simultanious stances at 20th would be a reasonable part of balancing this? Seems a little silly at first glance, but I guess I could go for it...

Mongoose87
2010-01-03, 12:03 PM
I'd at least give it a dual stance ability, like the Warblade's. I can has reading comprehension?

I'd also consider making it a PRC. This is a somewhat limited concept for a 20-level class.

DracoDei
2010-01-03, 12:11 PM
It gets dual stance at 10th level. At 20th level it gets TRIPLE stance. You must have read too quickly.

ErrantX
2010-01-03, 01:05 PM
2nded. This screams Prestige Class to me.

Could call it Sublime Form Master?

-X

Flickerdart
2010-01-03, 01:26 PM
With Natiyan Rahskasa as the race, you could get 4 stances at once in Gestalt. There's got to be a way to abuse that somehow.

DracoDei
2010-01-03, 01:27 PM
Ok, will probably do that... new thread when/if I do? (odd situation, asking for advice on forum ettiquette/effective proceedure).

Thinking 10 levels, Requires 3 stances to enter (so can enter from Sword-Sage or Crusader 2 if you spend your first level feat on Martial Stance), Stance Mastery at 5th, Improved Stance Mastery at 10th. Might keep some of the bonus feats to prevent dead levels without having to give a new stance EVERY level...