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View Full Version : [3.5 Base Class] Mountebank Fix [PEACH]



Psychonix
2011-05-18, 11:17 PM
I've always had a soft spot for the mountebank class from dragon compendium. Aside from it having the greatest capstone of all time (You're now an NPC! Congratulations!), the flavour of the class appealed to me. However the mechanics of the class always seemed a bit so so.

Having never created a homebrew before, I have decided to take a shot at redesigning this class. Any comments or critiques would be very much appreciated.

The Mountebank

{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special

1st|
+0|
+0|
+2|
+2|Beguiling Stare, Bonus Language, Mark of Damnation, Trapfinding

2nd|
+1|
+0|
+3|
+3|Deceptive Attack +1d6

3rd|
+2|
+1|
+3|
+3|Infernal Patron Ability

4th|
+3|
+1|
+4|
+4|-

5th|
+3|
+1|
+4|
+4|Deceptive Attack +2d6, Infernal Patron Ability

6th|
+4|
+2|
+5|
+5|Disguise the Soul's Aspect

7th|
+5|
+2|
+5|
+5|Infernal Patron Ability

8th|
+6/+1|
+2|
+6|
+6|Deceptive Attack +3d6

9th|
+6/+1|
+3|
+6|
+6|Infernal Patron Ability

10th|
+7/+2|
+3|
+7|
+7|-

11th|
+8/+3|
+3|
+7|
+7|Deceptive Attack +4d6, Infernal Patron Ability

12th|
+9/+4|
+4|
+8|
+8|-

13th|
+9/+4|
+4|
+8|
+8|Infernal Patron Ability

14th|
+10/+5|
+4|
+9|
+9|Deceptive Attack +5d6

15th|
+11/+6/+1|
+5|
+9|
+9|Infernal Patron Ability

16th|
+12/+7/+2|
+5|
+10|
+10|-

17th|
+12/+7/+3|
+5|
+10|
+10|Deceptive Attack +6d6, Infernal Patron Ability

18th|
+13/+8/+4|
+6|
+11|
+11|-

19th|
+14/+9/+5|
+6|
+11|
+11|Infernal Patron Ability

20th|
+15/+10/+5|
+6|
+12|
+12|Aspect of the Damned, Deceptive Attack +7d6[/table]

Alignment: Any non-good.
Hit Die: d6.
Class Skills: Appraise (Int), Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Disable Device (Int), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Forgery (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (Local) (Int), Knowledge (the planes) (Int), Move Silently (Dex), Open Lock (Dex), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Sleight of Hand (Dex), Spellcraft (Int), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex), and Use Magic Device (Cha).
Skill Points at 1st Level: (6 + Int modifier) x 4.
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 6 + Int modifier.

Class Features

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Mountebanks are proficient with all simple weapons, plus the short sword. Mountebanks are proficient with light armor, but not with shields.

Beguiling Stare (Su): As a move action, the mountebank can stare into her target's eyes and attempt to hypnotize him through the force of her infernal gaze. The target of this ability must make a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 mountebank's level + mountebank's Cha modifier). If this save fails, the target becomes beguiled until the end of the mountebank's next turn. The mountebank can use this ability at will, but she cannot attempt to use it against a single target more than once per day.
A beguiled character loses his Dexterity bonus to Armor Class. He also suffers a -2 penalty on all Will saves and a -5 penalty on all Sense Motive checks. The mountebank's infernal power overwhelms the target's mind, leaving his thoughts foggy and his body leaden. If the mountebank's target succeeds in his save, he has no knowledge of the mountebank's attempt to beguile him unless he makes a DC 20 Knowledge (the planes) check. In the target's mind, he merely stared into her eyes for a moment.
Beguiling stare is a mind-affecting ability.

Bonus Language: The mountebank gains either Abyssal or Infernal as a bonus language to better communicate with her sinister masters.

Mark of Damnation: A mountebank pledges her soul to an infernal power, be it a demon, devil, or similar baleful lord. When the mountebank dies, her soul is consigned to her master. Any attempt to return her to life has a chance of failure, as the mountebank's master determines the fate of her soul. The mountebank must make a DC 25 Bluff or Diplomacy check (her choice) to return to the living. She gains a bonus on this check equal to half her mountebank level, as the dark lords of
the Outer Planes prefer to let their more accomplished and skilled pawns return to the Material Plane to wreak further misery.

Trapfinding: Mountebanks can use the Search skill to locate traps when the task has a Difficulty Class higher than 20. Finding a nonmagical trap has a DC of at least 20, or higher if it is well hidden. Finding a magic trap has a DC of 25 + the level of the spell used to create it.
Mountebanks can use the Disable Device skill to disarm magic traps. A magic trap generally has a DC of 25 + the level of the spell used to create it. A mountebank who beats a trap's DC by 10 or more with a Disable Device check can study the trap, figure out how it works, and bypass it without disarming it.

Deceptive Attack: If a mountebank of at least 2nd level can lull an opponent into dropping his defences, she can make a sudden, devastating strike.
The mountebank's attack deals extra damage against any target that is denied its dexterity bonus to AC or against targets that she successfully feints. This extra damage is 1d6 at 2nd level, and it increases by 1d6 every three mountebank levels thereafter. The mountebank never multiplies deceptive attack damage on a successful critical hit. The mountebank cannot use this ability with ranged weapons, nor can she use it to deal nonlethal damage.
This bonus damage applies against all creatures, even those immune to critical hits or sneak attacks. The speed and sudden nature of the mountebank's attack allows her to make a telling blow, rather than a strike against a specific spot in her opponent's anatomy.

Infernal Patron (Su): Owing to her close connection to an infernal patron or similar, sinister master, the mountebank can channel the energies of the Lower Planes to aid her in clouding the minds of others. In a manner similar to how a cleric calls upon the power of his deity the mountebank turns to her master for aid. She can call upon her patron's aid a number of times per day equal to 1/2 her mountebank level + Charisma modifier. Channelling this energy and using it to power her abilities is a standard action. The mountebank gains the ability to use this power in a number of different ways.

At 3rd level, and every 2 levels thereafter, the mountebank is granted a new ability by her patron. This ability is selected from the list below and cannot be changed once chosen.

Least Powers
Unless otherwise stated, a Mountebank must be at least 3rd level before she can gain a Least Power.
Cantrips - NEEDS A NAME (Sp): The Mountebank gains the ability to use Ghost Sound, Message and Prestidigitation as a sorcerer with a caster level equal to her mountebank level. She does not need to expend a use of her infernal patron ability to use any of these spells.

Contact Patron (Sp): By concentrating on the connection that binds them, a mountebank can ask questions of her patron. By expending two uses of her infernal patron ability, the Mountebank can use Commune as a cleric with a caster level equal to her mountebank level.
Must be 7th level or higher before taking this power.

Hypnotic Gaze (Su): By expending two uses of her infernal patron ability, the mountebank can make people more susceptible to her words. She channels her power into a 60-foot cone. All creatures within this area must make Will saves (DC 10 + 1/2 mountebank's level + mountebank's Cha modifier). Creatures that fail this will save are fascinated, as if by a bard of level equal to the mountebank's level.
Furthermore, creatures that remain fascinated for three consecutive rounds must make an additional will save (DC 10 + 1/2 mountebank's level + mountebank's Cha modifier). If they fail they are charmed as if charm person had been cast on them. The caster level for this effect is equal to her mountebank level. This is a mind-affecting ability.
Must be 7th level or higher before selecting this power.

Infernal Defense (Sp): The mountebank can call upon her foul patron to protect her from attacks. By expending one of her uses of her infernal patron ability, the mountebank can use displacement upon herself as a sorcerer with a caster level equal to her mountebank level.
Must be 7th level or higher before selecting this power.

Mirror Image - NEEDS A NAME (Sp): By expending one use of her infernal patron ability, the mountebank can use mirror image as a sorcerer with a caster level equal to her mountebank level.

Infernal Guise (Sp): By expending one use of her infernal patron ability, the mountebank can use alter self as a sorcerer with a caster level equal to her mountebank level.

Invisibility - NEEDS A NAME (Sp): By expending one use of her infernal patron ability, the mountebank can use invisibility as a sorcerer with a caster level equal to her mountebank level.

Mass Beguile (Su): The mountebank can use her infernal patron ability to cloud the minds of her enemies. She channels her power into a 30-foot burst, with a range of 100 feet + 10 feet per mountebank level. All creatures within this area must make Will saves (DC 10 + 1/2 mountebank's level + mountebank's Cha modifier). Creatures that fail this save are beguiled for a number of rounds equal to the mountebank's Charisma bonus, with a minimum of 1 round. This power affects only those creatures with Hit Dice less than or equal to the mountebank's level. This is a mind-affecting ability.
Lesser Powers
Unless stated otherwise, a Mountebank must be at least 11th level before she can gain a Lesser Power.
Infernal Curse (Sp): By expending two uses of her infernal patron ability, the mountebank can use Bestow Curse as a sorcerer with a caster level equal to her mountebank level.

Infernal Escape (Sp): By expending two uses of her infernal patron ability, the mountebank can use teleport as a sorcerer with a caster level equal to her mountebank level, but with one important exception. The mountebank can only use this ability on herself She cannot transport any other creature except a familiar, if she has one from levels in an appropriate class.
Must be 13th level or higher before selecting this power.

Infernal Geas (Sp): By expending two uses of her infernal patron ability, the mountebank can use Geas/Quest as a sorcerer with a caster level equal to her mountebank level.
Must be 13th level or higher before selecting this power.

Infernal Influence (Sp): By expending one of her uses of her infernal patron ability, the mountebank can use confusion against a single target (rather than as an area of effect ability). She otherwise uses the spell as a sorcerer with a caster level equal to her mountebank level.

Infernal Jaunt (Sp): By expending one of her use of her infernal patron ability, the mountebank can slide through planar space in a manner similar to a dimension door. She can use this ability to travel a total of 10 feet + 5 feet per mountebank level. She activates this ability as a move action and may take her other actions as normal after arriving at her destination. When the mountebank uses this ability, she disappears and re-appears in a small puff of brimstone.
If the mountebank wears a cloak of the mountebank, the cloak adds 100 feet to her daily use of this ability in addition to its normal benefits.
If the mountebank makes a melee attack immediately after using her infernal jaunt ability, she gains the benefits of her deceptive attack damage against her foe.

Infernal Possession (Sp): By expending two uses of her infernal patron ability, the mountebank can use Dominate Person as a sorcerer with a caster level equal to her mountebank level.
Must be 13th level or higher before selecting this power.
Greater Powers
Unless otherwise stated, a mountebank must be at least 17th level before she can gain a Greater Power.
Infernal Ally (Sp): By expending three uses of her infernal patron ability, the mountebank can use Planar Ally as a cleric with a caster level equal to her mountebank level.
<Half payment costs?>

Infernal Deception (Sp): By expending one use of her infernal patron ability, the mountebank can use mislead as a sorcerer with a caster level equal to her mountebank level.

Infernal Duplicate (Sp): By expending two uses of her infernal patron ability, the mountebank can use Project Image as a sorcerer with a caster level equal to her mountebank level.

Planar Step(Sp): By expending three uses of her infernal patron ability, the mountebank can use plane shift as a sorcerer with a caster level equal to her mountebank level, but with one important exception. The mountebank can only use this ability on herself. She cannot transport any other creature except for a familiar, if she has one from levels in an appropriate class.

Disguise the Soul's Aspect (Su): At 6th level the mountebank's motives become harder to discern though magical means. Whenever an opponent attempts to use a spell capable of determining or detecting the mountebank's alignment, the mountebank may make a Charisma check opposed by the Sense Motive of the person attempting to discern her alignment. If she succeeds, she picks the alignment that the caster detects. In some cases, this might lead the caster to detect nothing.
After making a successful Charisma check, the mountebank foils that specific opponent's attempts for 24 hours. If her check fails, the mountebank cannot make another opposed check against that target for 24 hours.

Aspect of the Damned: At 20th level the mountebank's soul comes due to her master. She gains the half-fiend template with no LA, unless she already has this template in which case she loses the LA from the template. Her alignment shifts to that of her patron.

EDIT: Redesigned Infernal Patron ability.

Psychonix
2011-05-19, 12:15 PM
Bump, significant edits made.

Cieyrin
2011-05-20, 02:30 PM
Gave this a brief skim and I think the LA loss bit in the cap is unnecessary, as every other tranformation capstone kinda eases you into the features till you're completely whatever. It should be broken up, kinda like Dread Necro's descent into lichdom. It's just bad design if you're a half-demon prior to capping.

Psychonix
2011-05-21, 12:07 AM
The capstone is currently a holdover from the original class. The original wording was as follows.


Aspect of the Damned: At 20th level the mountebank's soul comes due to her master. She gains the half-fiend template unless already one. Her alignment shifts to evil unless already evil. In any case, she becomes her master's willing thrall. She transports to the Outer Planes and becomes an NPC under the DM's control.
Only a quest to break her pact with her demonic or infernal overlord can free the mountebank from this fate. The exact nature of this quest is left to the DM, but it usually requires a mountebank to defeat her patron or his most powerful minions, render him a great service, or trick him into releasing her from their contract.

Your suggestion to break up the template ala Dread Necro is definitely worth considering, and would make the change far less abrupt. It would also work with regards to flavour, which is always a boon.

One problem I have with this is however, is that I cannot decide what to do about the spell like abilities that the template grants.
If they are granted as the class progresses, they will likely overshadow the other class features. On the other hand, if I don't grant them through class progression, the class suddenly gets them all at 20th level.

Another question is how Ability increases are handled. Dread Necromancer does not grant the ability score boosts throughout its progression and neither does Walker in the Wastes, though the template that they emulate note ability increases, so I assume that these are granted when the template is gained?

Possible Progression

2nd-Smite Good

5th-DR 2/Magic. Resistances 2. Gains spell like abilities like a half fiend, substituting Mountebank Level - 4 for HD. Caster level equal to mountebank level - 4.

8th-DR 4/Magic. Resistances 4.

10th- Gains spell like abilities like a half fiend, substituting Mountebank Level - 3 for HD. Caster level equal to mountebank level - 3.

11th- DR 6/magic. Resistances 6. Gains natural weapons. Natural Weapons treated as magical for overcoming DR.

14th DR 8/Magic. Resistances 8. Natural armour increases by 1. Gains Spell resistance.

15th- Gains spell like abilities like a half fiend, substituting Mountebank Level - 2 for HD. Caster level equal to mountebank level - 2.

17th-Gains Fly speed (Bat Wings). DR 10/magic. Resistances 10.

20th- Character becomes a Half Fiend. Type changes to native outsider. Gain all outsider traits. Alignment changes to Evil.

Gideon Falcon
2011-06-07, 04:46 PM
I'm confused as to how the capstone makes you an NPC.

It's certainly an interesting class, though. Definitely more evil pact-like than the Warlock.