Curious
2011-08-17, 08:21 PM
In short, my attempt at a tier 3 melee class that doesn't use manoeuvres. Still very much a work in progress.
The Battle Scion
Fluff on the way when I feel like it.
Alignment: Any (Also, I support the Color Wheel! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174163)).
Hit Die: d12.
Class Features
Class Skills:
The Battle Scions class skills are Acrobatics (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (Dungeoneering) (Int), Knowledge (Engineering), Knowledge (Local) (Int), Knowledge (Nobility) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Int), Ride (Dex), and Swim (Str).
Skill Ranks per Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Table: Battle Scion
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special
1st|
+1|
+2|
+2|
+2|Battle Arts, Valor Pool
2nd|
+2|
+3|
+3|
+3|Heart of Steel
3rd|
+3|
+3|
+3|
+3|Battle Art
4th|
+4|
+4|
+4|
+4|Bonus Feat
5th|
+5|
+4|
+4|
+4|Battle Art
6th|
+6/+1|
+5|
+5|
+5|Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken
7th|
+7/+2|
+5|
+5|
+5|Battle Art
8th|
+8/+3|
+6|
+6|
+6|Bonus Feat
9th|
+9/+4|
+6|
+6|
+6|Battle Art
10th|
+10/+5|
+7|
+7|
+7|Salient Warrior
11th|
+11/+6/+1|
+7|
+7|
+7|Battle Art
12th|
+12/+7/+2|
+8|
+8|
+8|Bonus Feat
13th|
+13/+8/+3|
+8|
+8|
+8|Battle Art
14th|
+14/+9/+4|
+9|
+9|
+9|Battle Proficiency
15th|
+15/+10/+5|
+9|
+9|
+9|Battle Art
16th|
+16/+11/+6/+1|
+10|
+10|
+10|Bonus Feat
17th|
+17/+12/+7/+2|
+10|
+10|
+10|Battle Art
18th|
+18/+13/+8/+3|
+11|
+11|
+11|Lord of War
19th|
+19/+14/+9/+4|
+11|
+11|
+11|Battle Art
20th|
+20/+15/+10/+5|
+12|
+12|
+12|Bonus Feat, Warrior Rampant
[/table]
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Battle Scions are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, with all types of armor (heavy, medium, and light), and with shields (including tower shields).
Battle Arts (Ex): As a Battle Scion immerses herself more fully in the clangor of battle, she begins to develop techniques and abilities to augment her battle prowess. At 1st level, a Battle Scion gains two battle arts. She gains an additional Battle Art for every 2 levels of Battle Scion attained after 1st level. A Battle Scion cannot select a Battle Art more than once.
Valor Pool (Ex): At 1st level, the Battle Scion gains a pool of Valor points that she can spend to accomplish astounding feats. The number of points in a Battle Scion's Valor pool is equal to 2 times her Battle Scion level plus her Charisma modifier. At the beginning of her turn, a Battle Scion regains a number of points equal to her class level, up to her maximum available number of points.
By spending 1 valor point, a Battle Scion can add either a +1 bonus to an attack roll, a +2 bonus to a damage roll,or a +5 bonus to her speed until the end of the round.
At 4th level, a Battle Scion can spend 4 valor points to gain an extra move action for 1 round. You cannot use this ability more than once in a round.
At 8th level, a Battle Scion can spend 8 valor points to gain an extra standard action for 1 round. You cannot use this ability more than once in a round.
Heart of Steel (Ex): At 2nd level, a Battle Scion gains a bonus equal to her Charisma modifier (if any) on all saving throws.
Bonus Feats (Ex): At level 4, and every 4 levels thereafter, a Battle Scion gains a bonus feat, which may be any feat which she meets the prerequisites.
Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken (Ex): At 6th level, the Battle Scion gains the ability to ignore even magical and unusual attacks through sheer strength of will. If she makes a successful save against an attack that would normally deal half damage or produce a lesser effect on a successful save, you instead negate the effect entirely. You do not gain the benefit of this ability while unconscious.
Salient Warrior (Ex): At 10th level, a Battle Scion can add their Charisma modifier to their armor class until the end of their next turn after either moving at least 10 feet, or being hit more than twice in a round.
Battle Proficiency (Ex): At 14th level, at the beginning of the day a Battle Scion may choose any one Battle Art she is trained in and swap it for another Battle Art of equal level. At the end of the day she regains her original Battle Art, which may be swapped out as normal.
Lord of War (Ex): At 18th level, whenever a Battle Scion successfully hits an enemy with an attack, they may spend 4 valor points to make another attack at the same BAB. This ability may only be used once per succesful attack.
Warrior Rampant (Ex): At 20th level, the Battle Scion becomes an avatar of war, one of the greatest warriors in the world. She automatically succeeds on all critical confirmation checks, and gains a permanent + 4 bonus to any physical ability score of her choice. Any abilities that require Valor points to activate have their price reduced by 1, to a minimum of 1.
Battle Arts
Battle Athlete (Ex): While wearing light or no armor, you gain a +2 bonus to your armor class. This bonus increases by 1 at 4th level and every 4 levels after that. If you wear no armor, you also gain 10% concealment at level 4, which increases by 5% every 4 levels after that.
Brutish Power (Ex): Your immense strength allows you to shrug off most attacks. You may add your Strength modifier to your hit points gained every level, rather than your Constitution modifier.
Elegant Warrior (Ex): You may use your Dexterity modifier as a bonus to hit and damage in place of Strength.
Martial Artist (Ex): You gain Improved Unarmed Strike as a bonus feat, and monk unarmed strike damage as a monk of your class level. You add any Monk levels and Unarmed Swordsage levels you have to determine your effective monk level.
Martial Artist, Greater (Ex): You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls with unarmed strikes for every four Battle Scion levels you have. In addition, your unarmed strikes are treated as magic for overcoming DR. You must have the Battle Art, 'Martial Artist' to choose this Battle Art.
Overbearing Power (Ex): You may add your Strength bonus to your Armor Class in place of your Dexterity bonus.
Piercing Striker (Ex): For every point of BAB you have, you ignore 1 point of DR or Hardness when striking enemies or objects.
Precise Blows (Ex): The Battle Scion gains the Improved Called Shot feat. At 6th level, she gains the Great Called Shot feat.
Reach for the Skies (Ex): The Battle Scion may leap into the air a distance equal to her ground speed as a move action. She does not begin to fall until the end of her next turn (unless she chooses to), and takes no falling damage. You must have at least 6 levels of Battle Scion to choose this Battle Art.
Shape the Battlefield (Ex): The area for 5 feet around you counts as difficult terrain for all enemies until the beginning of your next turn. This area increases by 5 feet at 5th level, and again every 5 levels thereafter. This ability costs 2 Valor points.
Skin of Steel (Ex): You gain DR 5/-. This DR increases by 5 at level 5, and again every 5 levels thereafter, up to a maximum of 25 at level 20. This DR stacks with all other forms of DR.
Sliding Strike (Ex): When you successfully hit an opponent, you may spend a Valor point to move them 5 feet in any direction. For every extra Valor point burned, the opponent moves another 5 feet.
Speed Demon (Ex): When spending Valor points to increase your speed, you gain a +10 bonus for each point spent, rather than +5.
Spurting Wound (Ex): You may activate this ability when you successfully hit an enemy with an attack. The enemy takes 1d6 points of bleed damage (this damage does not stack with itself). This bleed damage increases by 1d6 at 9th level, and again every 3 levels thereafter. This ability costs 6 Valor points. You must have at least 6 levels of Battle Scion to choose this Battle Art.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): As the Warblade class ability. At 6th level, you gain Improved Uncanny Dodge, as the Warblade class feature.
Will Travel (Ex): The Battle Scion may move up to his full land speed as a Swift or Immediate action. This ability costs 10 Valor points. You must have at least 16 levels of Battle Scion to take this Battle Art.
More on the way, once I figure out what to use as abilities.
Here is what I have so far. I'm still looking for abilities that would make good Battle Arts, and I'm totally open to suggestions. I would also like input on how to improve the capstone; right now I think it's rather lackluster.
The Battle Scion
Fluff on the way when I feel like it.
Alignment: Any (Also, I support the Color Wheel! (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174163)).
Hit Die: d12.
Class Features
Class Skills:
The Battle Scions class skills are Acrobatics (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Knowledge (Dungeoneering) (Int), Knowledge (Engineering), Knowledge (Local) (Int), Knowledge (Nobility) (Int), Perception (Wis), Profession (Int), Ride (Dex), and Swim (Str).
Skill Ranks per Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Table: Battle Scion
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special
1st|
+1|
+2|
+2|
+2|Battle Arts, Valor Pool
2nd|
+2|
+3|
+3|
+3|Heart of Steel
3rd|
+3|
+3|
+3|
+3|Battle Art
4th|
+4|
+4|
+4|
+4|Bonus Feat
5th|
+5|
+4|
+4|
+4|Battle Art
6th|
+6/+1|
+5|
+5|
+5|Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken
7th|
+7/+2|
+5|
+5|
+5|Battle Art
8th|
+8/+3|
+6|
+6|
+6|Bonus Feat
9th|
+9/+4|
+6|
+6|
+6|Battle Art
10th|
+10/+5|
+7|
+7|
+7|Salient Warrior
11th|
+11/+6/+1|
+7|
+7|
+7|Battle Art
12th|
+12/+7/+2|
+8|
+8|
+8|Bonus Feat
13th|
+13/+8/+3|
+8|
+8|
+8|Battle Art
14th|
+14/+9/+4|
+9|
+9|
+9|Battle Proficiency
15th|
+15/+10/+5|
+9|
+9|
+9|Battle Art
16th|
+16/+11/+6/+1|
+10|
+10|
+10|Bonus Feat
17th|
+17/+12/+7/+2|
+10|
+10|
+10|Battle Art
18th|
+18/+13/+8/+3|
+11|
+11|
+11|Lord of War
19th|
+19/+14/+9/+4|
+11|
+11|
+11|Battle Art
20th|
+20/+15/+10/+5|
+12|
+12|
+12|Bonus Feat, Warrior Rampant
[/table]
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Battle Scions are proficient with all simple and martial weapons, with all types of armor (heavy, medium, and light), and with shields (including tower shields).
Battle Arts (Ex): As a Battle Scion immerses herself more fully in the clangor of battle, she begins to develop techniques and abilities to augment her battle prowess. At 1st level, a Battle Scion gains two battle arts. She gains an additional Battle Art for every 2 levels of Battle Scion attained after 1st level. A Battle Scion cannot select a Battle Art more than once.
Valor Pool (Ex): At 1st level, the Battle Scion gains a pool of Valor points that she can spend to accomplish astounding feats. The number of points in a Battle Scion's Valor pool is equal to 2 times her Battle Scion level plus her Charisma modifier. At the beginning of her turn, a Battle Scion regains a number of points equal to her class level, up to her maximum available number of points.
By spending 1 valor point, a Battle Scion can add either a +1 bonus to an attack roll, a +2 bonus to a damage roll,or a +5 bonus to her speed until the end of the round.
At 4th level, a Battle Scion can spend 4 valor points to gain an extra move action for 1 round. You cannot use this ability more than once in a round.
At 8th level, a Battle Scion can spend 8 valor points to gain an extra standard action for 1 round. You cannot use this ability more than once in a round.
Heart of Steel (Ex): At 2nd level, a Battle Scion gains a bonus equal to her Charisma modifier (if any) on all saving throws.
Bonus Feats (Ex): At level 4, and every 4 levels thereafter, a Battle Scion gains a bonus feat, which may be any feat which she meets the prerequisites.
Unbent, Unbowed, Unbroken (Ex): At 6th level, the Battle Scion gains the ability to ignore even magical and unusual attacks through sheer strength of will. If she makes a successful save against an attack that would normally deal half damage or produce a lesser effect on a successful save, you instead negate the effect entirely. You do not gain the benefit of this ability while unconscious.
Salient Warrior (Ex): At 10th level, a Battle Scion can add their Charisma modifier to their armor class until the end of their next turn after either moving at least 10 feet, or being hit more than twice in a round.
Battle Proficiency (Ex): At 14th level, at the beginning of the day a Battle Scion may choose any one Battle Art she is trained in and swap it for another Battle Art of equal level. At the end of the day she regains her original Battle Art, which may be swapped out as normal.
Lord of War (Ex): At 18th level, whenever a Battle Scion successfully hits an enemy with an attack, they may spend 4 valor points to make another attack at the same BAB. This ability may only be used once per succesful attack.
Warrior Rampant (Ex): At 20th level, the Battle Scion becomes an avatar of war, one of the greatest warriors in the world. She automatically succeeds on all critical confirmation checks, and gains a permanent + 4 bonus to any physical ability score of her choice. Any abilities that require Valor points to activate have their price reduced by 1, to a minimum of 1.
Battle Arts
Battle Athlete (Ex): While wearing light or no armor, you gain a +2 bonus to your armor class. This bonus increases by 1 at 4th level and every 4 levels after that. If you wear no armor, you also gain 10% concealment at level 4, which increases by 5% every 4 levels after that.
Brutish Power (Ex): Your immense strength allows you to shrug off most attacks. You may add your Strength modifier to your hit points gained every level, rather than your Constitution modifier.
Elegant Warrior (Ex): You may use your Dexterity modifier as a bonus to hit and damage in place of Strength.
Martial Artist (Ex): You gain Improved Unarmed Strike as a bonus feat, and monk unarmed strike damage as a monk of your class level. You add any Monk levels and Unarmed Swordsage levels you have to determine your effective monk level.
Martial Artist, Greater (Ex): You gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls with unarmed strikes for every four Battle Scion levels you have. In addition, your unarmed strikes are treated as magic for overcoming DR. You must have the Battle Art, 'Martial Artist' to choose this Battle Art.
Overbearing Power (Ex): You may add your Strength bonus to your Armor Class in place of your Dexterity bonus.
Piercing Striker (Ex): For every point of BAB you have, you ignore 1 point of DR or Hardness when striking enemies or objects.
Precise Blows (Ex): The Battle Scion gains the Improved Called Shot feat. At 6th level, she gains the Great Called Shot feat.
Reach for the Skies (Ex): The Battle Scion may leap into the air a distance equal to her ground speed as a move action. She does not begin to fall until the end of her next turn (unless she chooses to), and takes no falling damage. You must have at least 6 levels of Battle Scion to choose this Battle Art.
Shape the Battlefield (Ex): The area for 5 feet around you counts as difficult terrain for all enemies until the beginning of your next turn. This area increases by 5 feet at 5th level, and again every 5 levels thereafter. This ability costs 2 Valor points.
Skin of Steel (Ex): You gain DR 5/-. This DR increases by 5 at level 5, and again every 5 levels thereafter, up to a maximum of 25 at level 20. This DR stacks with all other forms of DR.
Sliding Strike (Ex): When you successfully hit an opponent, you may spend a Valor point to move them 5 feet in any direction. For every extra Valor point burned, the opponent moves another 5 feet.
Speed Demon (Ex): When spending Valor points to increase your speed, you gain a +10 bonus for each point spent, rather than +5.
Spurting Wound (Ex): You may activate this ability when you successfully hit an enemy with an attack. The enemy takes 1d6 points of bleed damage (this damage does not stack with itself). This bleed damage increases by 1d6 at 9th level, and again every 3 levels thereafter. This ability costs 6 Valor points. You must have at least 6 levels of Battle Scion to choose this Battle Art.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): As the Warblade class ability. At 6th level, you gain Improved Uncanny Dodge, as the Warblade class feature.
Will Travel (Ex): The Battle Scion may move up to his full land speed as a Swift or Immediate action. This ability costs 10 Valor points. You must have at least 16 levels of Battle Scion to take this Battle Art.
More on the way, once I figure out what to use as abilities.
Here is what I have so far. I'm still looking for abilities that would make good Battle Arts, and I'm totally open to suggestions. I would also like input on how to improve the capstone; right now I think it's rather lackluster.