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View Full Version : The Bio-Sculptor(3.5 Base Class, PEACH)



Pyromancer999
2011-02-06, 07:46 PM
Background- I like the Psion. I really do. It's THE psionic base class. However, if you want to specialize(which it has you do anyways), what do you get? A few different class skills, and a special power list. Not that the special power list isn't nifty, but it seems to me that there should be more than that to show just how good a specialist is at their chosen discipline. So, I've decided to make specialist psionic classes for each of the disciplines so that they get more than a few different class skills and a power list to show what they are, starting with the one for Psychometabolism: The Bio-Sculptor.

The Bio-Sculptor

Many who know of psionics and transformation know of Egoists-the supposed psionic master of anything having to do with the body or the forms it takes. However, less known to the general psionic population, there are those to whom psionic form-changing is as natural to them as breathing. These are the Bio-Sculptors. The true masters of the Psychometabolism discipline, these beings can change their form almost at-will, eventually learning how to assume forms only seen in one's dreams-or nightmares, and also learn how to control the forms of others.

HD: d6
Skill points: 2 + Int mod (4 + Int mod x 4 at first level)
Skills:Autohypnosis(Wis), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Disable Device(Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (all skills, taken individually) (Int), Profession (Wis), and Psicraft (Int)

The Bio-Sculptor
{table=head]Level|Base Attack <br> Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special |Power <br> Points/ <br> Day | Powers <br> Known| Maximum <br> Power <br> Level <br> Known

1st|
+0|
+0|
+0|
+2|Psicrystal, Form-Shift|3|2|1st

2nd|
+1|
+0|
+0|
+3|Evolution, Mutable Form|5|3|1st

3rd|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+3|Body Twist 1d8|10|5|2nd

4th|
+3|
+1|
+1|
+4|Evolved Companion, Shape Alteration|16|6|2nd

5th|
+3|
+1|
+1|
+4|Body Twist 2d8|24|8|3rd

6th|
+4|
+2|
+2|
+5|Shape Alteration|33|9|3rd

7th|
+5|
+2|
+2|
+5|Body Twist 3d8|44|11|4th

8th|
+6|
+2|
+2|
+6|Bio-Sculptor's Boost, Shape Alteration|56|12|4th

9th|
+6|
+3|
+3|
+6|Body Twist 4d8|70|14|5th

10th|
+7|
+3|
+3|
+7|Shape Alteration|85|15|5th

11th|
+8|
+3|
+3|
+7|Body Twist 5d8|102|17|6th

12th|
+9|
+4|
+4|
+8|Imposed Form, Shape Alteration|120|18|6th

13th|
+9|
+4|
+4|
+8|Body Twist 6d8|140|20|7th

14th|
+10|
+4|
+4|
+9|Shape Alteration|161|21|7th

15th|
+11|
+5|
+5|
+9|Body Twist 7d8|184|23|8th

16th|
+12|
+5|
+5|
+10|Dreamed Shape, Shape Alteration|208|24|8th

17th|
+12|
+5|
+5|
+10|Body Twist 8d8|234|26|9th

18th|[center]+13/center]|
+6|
+6|
+11|Shape Alteration|261|27|9th

19th|
+14|
+6|
+6|
+11|Body Twist 9d8|289|29|9th

20th|
+15|
+6|
+6|
+12| Master of Many Forms, Shape Alteration|318|30|9th[/table]

Class Features

Armor and Weapon Proficiencies: Bio-Sculptors are profiecient with all simple weapons and 1 martial weapon of their choice. Bio-Sculptors are not proficient with any armor.

Power Points/Day: A Bio-Sculptor's Power Points Per Day are as on the table above.

Powers Known: The Bio-Sculptor begins play knowing two powers of the player's choice. The Bio-Sculptor may choose any power of the Psychometabolism discipline when choosing powers. However, the Bio-Sculptor may never learn powers from other disciplines unless he has a separate psionic class that learns them. Manifesting stat is Charisma.

Form-Shift: The Bio-Sculptor shows his mastery of form transformation at early stages. The Bio-Sculptor may choose the form of any creature he has encountered in place of a power, when he chooses powers. This creature may not be of the construct or undead types, nor may it have the swarm or incorporeal subtypes. The power equivalent is based on the creature's CR, as seen on the table below. In all respects, the Bio-Sculptor is treated as though he had used the Metamorphosis power to transform into that creature. The Bio-Sculptor gains a +1 to attack and damage rolls in this form, and gains an additional +1 to attack and damage rolls for each three levels it is below the highest level power he can mainifest. The Bio-Sculptor may not choose a form whose CR exceeds his or her manifester level.


CR| Power Level Equivalent
1 or less|1
2-3|2
4-5|3
6-7|4
8-9|5
10-11|6
11-14|7
14-17|8
18-20|9


Evolution: At 2nd level, the Bio-Sculptor learns how to evolve and make his body meet his needs, just a lot quicker. At the beginning of each day, he gains a pool of binding points to apply to himself as though he were an eidolon (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=155181)that has one binding point per class level, although he may not purchase HD this way. The benefits this class feature brings are only applicable when in the Bio-Sculptor's natural form.

Mutable Form: At 2nd level, the Bio-Sculptor's form becomes more susceptible to change shape. He gains the Minor Change Shape ability that Changelings do, except that he also assume the form of any creature not of the Construct, Elemental, or Undead types and does not have the Incorporeal or Swarm subtypes whose CR is less than 1 and is of the same size or one size smaller than your natural form.

Body Twist: At 3rd level, the Bio-Sculptor learns how to focus his psionic energies so that he can change others' forms in ways that hurt. While psionically focused, as a standard action, the Bio-Sculptor may expend his psionic focus to make a ranged attack against any opponent within 30 feet. If this succeeds, the form of the target changes in a way that causes pain, dealing 1d8 damage. This damage increases by 1d8 at 5th level and every two levels after.

Evolved Companion: At 4th level, the Psicrystal of the Bio-Sculptor becomes more biological. The psicrystal becomes any living creature available to a Druid of 3 levels lower than the Bio-Sculptor's class level. It gains the benefits of the Psicrystal Affinity feat as though it were a psicrystal, except that it loses the Self-Propulsion and Flight abilities. Additionally, it gains its own pool of binding points that act in the same manner as the Evolution ability, except that its pool of binding points is half that of the Bio-Sculptor's.

Shape Alteration: At 4th level, and every two levels after, the Bio-Sculptor learns how to change his form(s) for the better, altering them to better suit his purposes. In order to use this class feature, the Bio-Sculptor must expend his psionic focus(except in the case of Natural Alteration). Each alteration lasts for 1 round/level, or the duration of the power, whichever is less. At each level this class feature is gained, he learns an additional ability from the list below:

Natural Alteration: The Bio-Sculptor chooses one alteration he knows. He now no longer needs to expend his psionic focus in order to alter a form with that alteration. A new alteration the Bio-Sculptor knows may be selected each time.

Physically Fit: The Bio-Sculptor may make the form more powerful, granting it a bonus to either Constitution, Dexterity, or Strength, chosen when this alteration is chosen. The Bio-Sculptor must expend a number of power points equal to twice the bonus he wishes to grant. A new ability score may be chosen each time this alteration is selected

Physically Skilled: The Bio-Sculptor may grant a bonus to any skill that involves Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution, by expending a number of power points equal to the bonus he wishes to grant. This skill must be chosen when the alteration is, and a new skill may be chosen each time.

Resistant: The Bio-Sculptor learns how to make a form more resistant by expending power points. The Bio-Sculptor chooses one type of effect when this alteration is chosen, and may select another type of effect by choosing this alteration again. This alteration grants a bonus equal to 1/2 the power points expended, unless energy effects are chosen, in which case it grants energy resistance equal to twice the power points spent.

Speedy: The Bio-Sculptor may choose to make his current form more swift. He grants a +5 bonus to any one speed the form possesses per 2 Power Points spent this way.

Unusual Movement: The Bio-Sculptor grants a new kind of movement to the form he is currently in. So long as the form does not already possess the type of movement the Bio-Sculptor has chosen, he may grant it a speed in that type of movement equal to 5 ft per 2 power points spent this way. The Bio-Sculptor chooses one type of movement each time this alteration is chosen.


Bio-Sculptor's Boost: At 8th level, the Bio-Sculptor learns how to enhance his allies' forms as well. He may enhance any of his allies' forms with any alteration he knows by expending his psionic focus, as normal(unless the alteration is affected by Natural Alteration), and expending 1 additional power point for each 10 feet the ally is away from the Bio-Sculptor(minimum 1).

Imposed Form: At 12th level, the Bio-Sculptor may force people to change form, whether they like it or not. The Bio-Sculptor may force people into any form he can assume by expending the power points necessary to normally change into that form, and by expending 1 additional power points per 2 CR of the creature(minimum 1). The target is granted a Will save against this effect.

Dreamed Shape: At 16th level, the Bio-Sculptor learns how to assume shapes of creatures that previously only existed in his dreams-or nightmares, depending on the Bio-Sculptor. When choosing forms as powers, he may create an imaginary form, using binding points, as though the form was an eidolon. The Form gains 5 points per CR of the creature, and gains additional binding points equal to 1/4 the Bio-Sculptor's level/

Master of Many Forms: At 20th level, the Bio-Sculptor reaches the pinnacle of mastery over forms. First, he gains the Shapechanger subtype. Secondly, for a total number of rounds per day equal to his Bio-Sculptor level, all powers and alterations are manifested freely, and he may change into any form he could using his powers as a free action once per round.

Please PEACH.

Dead_Jester
2011-02-06, 08:17 PM
Great idea, but there are some big things you might want to address.

First of all, you might want to include somewhere that this class requires PF's summoner class (although it is available on PF's SRD) for the Evolution points (assuming that's what you are referring to).

Second, does the Bio-Sculptor get the extraordinary and supernatural abilities of it's form? Because, off the top of my head, I can think of at least a dozen creatures that I would never let a player become if they could get all their abilities.

Third, does this ability let this class qualify as if it was wildshape?

Does changing form take psionic points (it probably should)? How long does it last?

I don't think this class needs the eidolon points, because it is after getting something like 20 wildshape forms, and those don't need to be any stronger.

Imposed form should probably have a fixed cost (something like 20 pp), because if the cost is based on the CR, there is no reason to transform all your enemies into squirrels for 1 pp each.

Dreamed needs to say if it enhances an existing form, or is entirely made up. Either way, you need to reduce the amount of Evolution Points (again assuming you are referring to the PF summoner). The summoner gets a maximum of 26, and this class gets 4 + 5x the creatures CR (make it 19, and you get 99 points!!!).

Pyromancer999
2011-02-06, 08:25 PM
Great idea, but there are some big things you might want to address.

First of all, you might want to include somewhere that this class requires PF's summoner class (although it is available on PF's SRD) for the Evolution points (assuming that's what you are referring to).

Actually, I was referring to this (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=155181).


Second, does the Bio-Sculptor get the extraordinary and supernatural abilities of it's form? Because, off the top of my head, I can think of at least a dozen creatures that I would never let a player become if they could get all their abilities.

If you read the description, it is done the same way as though the form had been assumed through Metamorphosis.
[/QUOTE]


Third, does this ability let this class qualify as if it was wildshape?



No, it doesn't. You can make it a house rule if you want.
Does changing form take psionic points (it probably should)? How long does it last?

Mutable Form does not. However, if you learn a form instead of a power, then, yes, it does.


I don't think this class needs the eidolon points, because it is after getting something like 20 wildshape forms, and those don't need to be any stronger.

If you're talking about Evolution, it only applies when the Bio-Sculptor is in natural form.


Imposed form should probably have a fixed cost (something like 20 pp), because if the cost is based on the CR, there is no reason to transform all your enemies into squirrels for 1 pp each.

1) It's additional power points. 2) It's 1 additional power points per 2 CR of the targeted creature, not the creature transformed into.


Dreamed needs to say if it enhances an existing form, or is entirely made up. Either way, you need to reduce the amount of Evolution Points (again assuming you are referring to the PF summoner). The summoner gets a maximum of 26, and this class gets 4 + 5x the creatures CR (make it 19, and you get 99 points!!!).
It is made up. Again, sorry for the confusion caused by not specifying where the eidolon was coming from.

Dead_Jester
2011-02-07, 04:20 PM
Much better now, but do you get the entirety of the points usually available to an eidolon binder of your level?

And you might also want to limit what you get when you use mutable form, because right now, you could get some serious natural armor (and a few other nifty abilities), and players would probably always take those forms, which is probably not the intent of this ability.

Pyromancer999
2011-02-07, 05:22 PM
Much better now, but do you get the entirety of the points usually available to an eidolon binder of your level?

For Dream Shape, a form gets 5 points per CR to use, and an additional amount equal to your Int modifier. Evolution Pools give you 1 point per class level. So, no.


And you might also want to limit what you get when you use mutable form, because right now, you could get some serious natural armor (and a few other nifty abilities), and players would probably always take those forms, which is probably not the intent of this ability.
.....You should look at this (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070314a), which this class feature is based off of. It only allows you to look like the creature. You do not get to get any of the other abilities than the size change, if any.

Dead_Jester
2011-02-07, 09:13 PM
.....You should look at this (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20070314a), which this class feature is based off of. It only allows you to look like the creature. You do not get to get any of the other abilities than the size change, if any.

Ok..., because if I remember correctly, the actual ability in the ECS says Alter Self, and not Disguise Self, although I might have it wrong. Anyways, sorry for the confusion.

Pyromancer999
2011-02-07, 09:49 PM
Ok..., because if I remember correctly, the actual ability in the ECS says Alter Self, and not Disguise Self, although I might have it wrong. Anyways, sorry for the confusion.

I thought that myself until I looked it up, so I know it's pretty easy to make that mistake.

Any more comments/PEACHes?

Pyromancer999
2011-02-08, 02:57 PM
Anyone else want to comment/PEACH this?

JKTrickster
2011-02-13, 03:08 PM
Oh something I wanted to say but forgot:

There was another class that got homebrewed that you can compare yours with. It's called the Metabolist (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140125) and focuses on shape shifting into alternative forms. You can compare and contrast your ideas~

Pyromancer999
2011-02-13, 04:00 PM
Oh something I wanted to say but forgot:

There was another class that got homebrewed that you can compare yours with. It's called the Metabolist (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140125) and focuses on shape shifting into alternative forms. You can compare and contrast your ideas~

Yeah, I've seen this kind of stuff. I'm not too keen on Formbinding as those I know who've tried it don't find it that great, and also it's quite confusing, or so I think.

JKTrickster
2011-02-13, 04:31 PM
Just wondering, is there a reason why the Bio-Sculptor has no support for the healing properties of the Psychometabolism discipline?

Pyromancer999
2011-02-13, 04:48 PM
Just wondering, is there a reason why the Bio-Sculptor has no support for the healing properties of the Psychometabolism discipline?

This part is mainly because this is more a form-changing class than a healer. Yes, healing is an important, but it doesn't really fit into the fluff of the class as it is.

JKTrickster
2011-02-13, 07:16 PM
My question is how doesn't form bending relate to healing? You change their form to a non-injured state of themselves. There doesn't have to be a lot of support - just a little would do fine.

EDIT: Can you also clear up how many binding points they get?

Pyromancer999
2011-02-13, 07:27 PM
My question is how doesn't form bending relate to healing? You change their form to a non-injured state of themselves. There doesn't have to be a lot of support - just a little would do fine.

The problem is that I don't think I could add more support for anything into the class without driving it into Tier 1 or decently into Tier 2

JKTrickster
2011-02-13, 07:29 PM
You probably didn't see my edit but I'm confused as to how many binding points they get.

I suppose it's fine anyway. After all either: a. their forms have healing abilities, or b. they could just take the powers associated.

Pyromancer999
2011-02-13, 07:31 PM
You probably didn't see my edit but I'm confused as to how many binding points they get.

Could you specify as to which ability?


I suppose it's fine anyway. After all either: a. their forms have healing abilities, or b. they could just take the powers associated.

Yeah, it should be fine.

JKTrickster
2011-02-13, 07:33 PM
For the Evolution ability, do they get a bonus based on Wis and Level like the class Eidion Binder? Or do they only get the numerical value on the table?

Pyromancer999
2011-02-13, 07:38 PM
For the Evolution ability, do they get a bonus based on Wis and Level like the class Eidion Binder? Or do they only get the numerical value on the table?

Not sure what table you're talking about, but they only get the points listed in the class feature description. No bonuses for high Wisdom scores at all.

JKTrickster
2011-02-13, 07:41 PM
The class has a table that shows the Binder points they get at each level, and also bonus points based on Wisdom and level.

Also I assume the Bio-Sculptor is counted as a Eidolon Binder of the same level?

Pyromancer999
2011-02-13, 08:42 PM
The class has a table that shows the Binder points they get at each level, and also bonus points based on Wisdom and level.

Also I assume the Bio-Sculptor is counted as a Eidolon Binder of the same level?

For Evolution, the Bio-Sculptor only gets 1/2 his level in binding points. So, a level 10 Bio-Sculptor would have 5 binding points to assign at the start of each day. For the forms, the Bio-Sculptor gets 5 binding points per level to invest into the Dreamed Shape. No bonuses, no binding points as an Eidolon Binder of any level would have.

JKTrickster
2011-02-13, 11:44 PM
I....didn't actually find that in the text (unless I"m missing it). Where did you put that?

Pyromancer999
2011-02-14, 03:08 PM
I....didn't actually find that in the text (unless I"m missing it). Where did you put that?



Evolution: At 2nd level, the Bio-Sculptor learns how to evolve and make his body meet his needs, just a lot quicker. At the beginning of each day, he gains a pool of binding points to apply to himself as though he were an eidolon (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=155181) that has one binding point per class level, although he may not purchase HD this way. The benefits this class feature brings are only applicable when in the Bio-Sculptor's natural form.


Evolved Companion: At 4th level, the Psicrystal of the Bio-Sculptor becomes more biological. The psicrystal becomes any living creature available to a Druid of 3 levels lower than the Bio-Sculptor's class level. It gains the benefits of the Psicrystal Affinity feat as though it were a psicrystal, except that it loses the Self-Propulsion and Flight abilities. Additionally, it gains its own pool of binding points that act in the same manner as the Evolution ability, except that its pool of binding points is half that of the Bio-Sculptor's.



Dreamed Shape: At 16th level, the Bio-Sculptor learns how to assume shapes of creatures that previously only existed in his dreams-or nightmares, depending on the Bio-Sculptor. When choosing forms as powers, he may create an imaginary form, using binding points, as though the form was an eidolon. The Form gains 5 points per CR of the creature, and gains additional binding points equal to 1/4 the Bio-Sculptor's level.



Here. I said it here.

JKTrickster
2011-02-14, 07:08 PM
Ahh thank you. Don't know what hit me :smallsigh:

Pyromancer999
2011-02-14, 08:40 PM
Ahh thank you. Don't know what hit me :smallsigh:

Meh, it's easy to miss a couple lines of text. Happens to me sometimes as well, so no big deal.

JKTrickster
2011-02-19, 08:16 PM
Well not that you've finished all 6 classes, I think it's about time to go back and format all of this. For example, which as Ex abilities, etc.

Also now that there's more attention, perhaps we can get some of the real homebrew masters of this board to look in on this project. I really hope you can succeed Pyromancer :smallwink: (not that you haven't - your work has been truly nothing short of exemplary)

Pyromancer999
2011-02-19, 08:55 PM
Well not that you've finished all 6 classes, I think it's about time to go back and format all of this. For example, which as Ex abilities, etc.

Meh, well, they'd pretty much be all (Psi) abilities anyways. Some cases you could argue (Su), maybe.


Also now that there's more attention, perhaps we can get some of the real homebrew masters of this board to look in on this project. I really hope you can succeed Pyromancer :smallwink: (not that you haven't - your work has been truly nothing short of exemplary)
Perhaps. *Bows* And thank you for the compliment.

JKTrickster
2011-02-20, 01:21 AM
True, but for proper formatting its necessary to do that. And there still formatting errors on your chart and everything so yeah.

EDIT: Do the forms cost PP to change into? If so how much?

Pyromancer999
2011-02-20, 08:41 AM
EDIT: Do the forms cost PP to change into? If so how much?

Yes. They cost the same as a power of a certain level based on CR.

JKTrickster
2011-02-20, 10:18 AM
Oh okay it wasn't too clear (they are learned as powers, but are they manifested as powers?) I think you should clear that up with all your classes.

Pyromancer999
2011-02-20, 10:35 AM
Oh okay it wasn't too clear (they are learned as powers, but are they manifested as powers?) I think you should clear that up with all your classes.

Learned as powers generally means they can be manifested as powers.

JKTrickster
2011-02-20, 11:27 AM
Oh okay I see. And also I would change the manifesting stat to Cha to match the Metamorphic Transfer feat. I assume the feat works with the forms from this class right?

Pyromancer999
2011-02-20, 11:30 AM
Oh okay I see. And also I would change the manifesting stat to Cha to match the Metamorphic Transfer feat. I assume the feat works with the forms from this class right?

You assume correctly. Manifesting stat is now Cha.

JKTrickster
2011-02-20, 11:39 AM
You know you can totally do 2 Class per Mental Stat!

Wis:
Transient Psyche and Esoteric Augur

Cha:
Bio-Sculptor and Mind Puppeteer

Int:
Energy Weaver and Mindforger

Pyromancer999
2011-02-20, 11:51 AM
You know you can totally do 2 Class per Mental Stat!

Wis:
Transient Psyche and Esoteric Augur

Cha:
Bio-Sculptor and Mind Puppeteer

Int:
Energy Weaver and Mindforger

The Cha ones are okay, but Esoteric Augur is more about knowledge acquiring, so I'd have to say that that would definitely have Int as a manifesting stat. However, Mind Forger or Energy Weaver might be able to work with Wis, depending on how you look at it.

JKTrickster
2011-02-20, 07:41 PM
Hmm in that case I would say Energy Weaver. It makes sense - if you're in tuned with the entire energy of the universe, you better be wise about how you're using it.

Pyromancer999
2011-02-20, 08:14 PM
Hmm in that case I would say Energy Weaver. It makes sense - if you're in tuned with the entire energy of the universe, you better be wise about how you're using it.

True, true.

JKTrickster
2011-02-20, 08:44 PM
Just wondering do the Bio-Sculptor's Boost and Imposed Form abilities work with Dreamed Shape? E.g. I make an entirely imaginary form and apply it to my allies/enemies?

Pyromancer999
2011-02-21, 03:31 PM
Just wondering do the Bio-Sculptor's Boost and Imposed Form abilities work with Dreamed Shape? E.g. I make an entirely imaginary form and apply it to my allies/enemies?

I'd say so. After all, it's a form they can assume.

Pyromancer999
2011-02-24, 04:11 PM
Changes:

-Capstone redone