Ralasha
2011-09-21, 09:07 PM
This will be an attempt at taking two classes that could be viewed as 'barbaric' and combining them in a balanced manner that will allow players a multitude of options for play style with a single character.
The two classes in question are the Totem Barbarian, and obviously, the Druid. This class will feature few of the abilities of either class, and what abilities it does share with them will be refined and honed.
As an example, instead of going 'congratulations, you are now high enough level to suddenly be capable of becoming animals' this class will gradually move in that direction.
It's variant on wild shape will not be wild shape, at least initially, nor will it be limited to animals alone, per-say. Instead it will gradually gain the abilities of whatever totem it chooses.
Case in point: All Wild Barbarians gain the ability to use a number of Animalism Manifestations equal to their constitution modifier per day. The Wild Barbarian gains more powerful abilities it may gain access to as it gains levels. A level 1 Wild Barbarian (Tiger) Would be able to choose from the following: Claws, Darkvision and Lowlight Vision, or Scent and Tracking. Lets say it picks Darkvision and Lowlight Vision.
At Level 2, it would be able to choose between Scent and Tracking, or Claws, or Fur. Each time you pick a mutator, you gain access to higher versions of those mutators. If it had picked claws, it would have gained access to claws and fangs. (Each higher level mutator has prerequisites.)
please note: keep in mind I am still fleshing it out and working out kinks with my PnP players. It is nearly finished, but not yet polished, sharpened or refined, and will require a lot of work even after it is finished.
Hit Dice: D12
Skills: (4+Int Mod)x4 at first level and 4+Int Mod per level after 1st.
Class Skills:
(Minor Moderate, Major and Mastery refer to Animalistic Manifestations known.)
{table]Level | BAB | FS | RS | WS | Special | Minor | Moderate | Major | Mastery
1 | +1 | +2 | +0 | +2 | Animalistic Nature, First Omen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0
2 | +2 | +3 | +0 | +3 | Second Omen | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0
3 | +3 | +3 | +1 | +3 | Third Omen, Speak with Animals | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0
4 | +4 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Fourth Omen | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0
5 | +5 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Intrinsic Instinct | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0
6 | +6 | +5 | +2 | +5 | Feral Senses | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0
7 | +7 | +5 | +2 | +5 | First Spirit Aspect | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0
8 | +8 | +6 | +2 | +6 | Natural Kinship | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0
9 | +9 | +6 | +3 | +6 | First Omen Advancement | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0
10 | +10 | +7 | +3 | +7 | Animalistic Power | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0
11 | +11 | +7 | +3 | +7 | Second Omen Advancement | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0
12 | +12 | +8 | +4 | +8 | | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0
13 | +13 | +8 | +4 | +8 | Third Omen Advancement | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0
14 | +14 | +9 | +4 | +9 | | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1
15 | +15 | +9 | +5 | +9 | Fourth Omen Advancement | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1
16 | +16 | +10 | +5 | +10 | | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2
17 | +17 | +10 | +5 | +10 | | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2
18 | +18 | +11 | +6 | +11 | Omen Mastery | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3
19 | +19 | +11 | +6 | +11 | Omen Mastery | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4
20 | +20 | +12 | +6 | +12 | Natural Perfection | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5[/table]
Armor and Weapon Proficiency: Medium and Light Armor and Shields except for tower shields. All Simple and Martial Weapons.
Animalistic Nature: This term is used loosely, since no two peoples inner animals are ever exactly the same. They are not even always animals. This class feature determines what benefits the character will gain from it's Omens.
For the purposes of this post, I will be using only one pre-made animal in order to simplify the example for future examination and deliberation.
Tiger Animalism Explanation of Omens Omens are physical traits that have a very real effect on the character. Which Omens are gained further determine which Animalistic Qualities the character is capable of pulling out. For purposes of simplifying this process, I will only be adding a single line of Omens.
First Omen (Ex): Predatory Sensory: The character gains a +2 bonus to spot listen and survival for the purposes of Tracking a target. The characters eyes and ears become catlike in outline.
Second Omen (Ex): Scenting (Predatory Sensory 2): The characters nose and mouth merge slightly, gaining what looks like the beginnings of a muzzle. The character gains the Scent Feat, and subsequently the Track feat.
Third Omen (Ex): Bestial Vision: The characters eyes take on a predatory look, much like that of a large cat, including slitted pupils and coloring. The character gains Low-Light Vision, and an additional +2 to spot and a +2 to survival and search.
Fourth Omen (Ex): Apex Sensory: The character gains darkvision 60' and may take a 10 on skill rolls related to tracking or hunting, even when conditions would normally prevent this. The character may additionally track at full speed, and only suffers the lesser penalty for tracking at normal speed when tracking at a run.
((That is an example of the Omens available, you'll notice that they all feed into each other. Your character can of course, intermingle different omen types, however, this may limit its effectiveness later, since it won't be able to master an omen below second. Other Omen lines include abilities more similar to a druids animal companion.))
Speak with Animals (Su): The character is now capable of speaking with animals at will, as the druid spell, as a Druid of the character's level..
Intrinstic Instinct (Ex): The character is becoming close enough to it's spirit animal that it can now sense things around it that are supernatural in nature, such as undead and lychanthropes, or extremely powerful magic.
Feral Senses: The character may now make passive rolls and take 10's on spot and listen. This represents the characters heightened survival insticts.
First Spirit Aspect: The character may now bring out it's animal spirit, and integrate it into itself. The character takes on an exagerated hybrid form, more (base race) than animal, but with obvious animal traits. (As a Tiger it gains a +4 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +4 Constitution, +20 Movement, +8 Spot, Listen, Survival. Claws, and Fangs. (please note, it is possible to gain bonuses to this earlier through Omens. This uses a charge of Animalism.)
Natural Kinship: The character is always considered one step towards friendly, up to devoted for purposes of interacting with animals of its kind. (Tiger Animalist has bonuses with Felines, Wolf Animalist has Bonus with any wolves/dogs.)
First Omen Advancement: The character's first omen becomes more potent, they gain double the skill bonuses from this omen. If it does not grant a skill bonus, they instead increase it's effects by one step, damage dice by one size category, or primary attribute by 1, in example, damage reduction or natural armor, improves by 1. The bonuses provided by this ability improve every three levels after this is gained. Remember multiplication does not make the double a quadruple, but a triple.
Animalistic Power: The character gains permanent racial statistical bonuses as they begin to change more rapidly. (Tiger gains +2 strength, dex and con.)
Second Omen Advancement: The character's Second Omen improved in a similar manner to the first omen. (In this instance, the character gains the ability to distinguish between individuals by scent.)
Third Omen Advancement: The character's Third Omen improves in a similar manner to the second and first omens. (In this instance, low-light vision range doubles, along with the skill bonuses.)
Fourth Omen Advancement: The character's Fourth Omen improves "...". (In this instance, the character may take 20's on the relevant skill checks, and the Darkvision extends out to 120' or becomes color, instead of B&W.)
Omen Mastery: The character may select any second or higher rank Omen which the character possesses, and advance it an additional step, or may select any fifth rank Omen.
Natural Perfection: The character's type changes to the type as their spirit's inspiration. (In this case, Animal) In addition, the character gains the subtype shapeshifter, and may electively activate or Supress any Omens or Animalisms at will. The character may also chose to take on an animal form, remaining it's original size, or changing its size for two uses in a day. If the creature is larger, (Such as a dire bear) the character may spend charges to increase its size up to that of its animal. Animals of the appropriate types are always considered friendly towards the character unless the character does something that would anger family. (A tiger can walk into a lion den and will be left unscathed.)
The two classes in question are the Totem Barbarian, and obviously, the Druid. This class will feature few of the abilities of either class, and what abilities it does share with them will be refined and honed.
As an example, instead of going 'congratulations, you are now high enough level to suddenly be capable of becoming animals' this class will gradually move in that direction.
It's variant on wild shape will not be wild shape, at least initially, nor will it be limited to animals alone, per-say. Instead it will gradually gain the abilities of whatever totem it chooses.
Case in point: All Wild Barbarians gain the ability to use a number of Animalism Manifestations equal to their constitution modifier per day. The Wild Barbarian gains more powerful abilities it may gain access to as it gains levels. A level 1 Wild Barbarian (Tiger) Would be able to choose from the following: Claws, Darkvision and Lowlight Vision, or Scent and Tracking. Lets say it picks Darkvision and Lowlight Vision.
At Level 2, it would be able to choose between Scent and Tracking, or Claws, or Fur. Each time you pick a mutator, you gain access to higher versions of those mutators. If it had picked claws, it would have gained access to claws and fangs. (Each higher level mutator has prerequisites.)
please note: keep in mind I am still fleshing it out and working out kinks with my PnP players. It is nearly finished, but not yet polished, sharpened or refined, and will require a lot of work even after it is finished.
Hit Dice: D12
Skills: (4+Int Mod)x4 at first level and 4+Int Mod per level after 1st.
Class Skills:
(Minor Moderate, Major and Mastery refer to Animalistic Manifestations known.)
{table]Level | BAB | FS | RS | WS | Special | Minor | Moderate | Major | Mastery
1 | +1 | +2 | +0 | +2 | Animalistic Nature, First Omen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0
2 | +2 | +3 | +0 | +3 | Second Omen | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0
3 | +3 | +3 | +1 | +3 | Third Omen, Speak with Animals | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0
4 | +4 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Fourth Omen | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0
5 | +5 | +4 | +1 | +4 | Intrinsic Instinct | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0
6 | +6 | +5 | +2 | +5 | Feral Senses | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0
7 | +7 | +5 | +2 | +5 | First Spirit Aspect | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0
8 | +8 | +6 | +2 | +6 | Natural Kinship | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0
9 | +9 | +6 | +3 | +6 | First Omen Advancement | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0
10 | +10 | +7 | +3 | +7 | Animalistic Power | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0
11 | +11 | +7 | +3 | +7 | Second Omen Advancement | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0
12 | +12 | +8 | +4 | +8 | | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0
13 | +13 | +8 | +4 | +8 | Third Omen Advancement | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0
14 | +14 | +9 | +4 | +9 | | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1
15 | +15 | +9 | +5 | +9 | Fourth Omen Advancement | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1
16 | +16 | +10 | +5 | +10 | | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2
17 | +17 | +10 | +5 | +10 | | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2
18 | +18 | +11 | +6 | +11 | Omen Mastery | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3
19 | +19 | +11 | +6 | +11 | Omen Mastery | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4
20 | +20 | +12 | +6 | +12 | Natural Perfection | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5[/table]
Armor and Weapon Proficiency: Medium and Light Armor and Shields except for tower shields. All Simple and Martial Weapons.
Animalistic Nature: This term is used loosely, since no two peoples inner animals are ever exactly the same. They are not even always animals. This class feature determines what benefits the character will gain from it's Omens.
For the purposes of this post, I will be using only one pre-made animal in order to simplify the example for future examination and deliberation.
Tiger Animalism Explanation of Omens Omens are physical traits that have a very real effect on the character. Which Omens are gained further determine which Animalistic Qualities the character is capable of pulling out. For purposes of simplifying this process, I will only be adding a single line of Omens.
First Omen (Ex): Predatory Sensory: The character gains a +2 bonus to spot listen and survival for the purposes of Tracking a target. The characters eyes and ears become catlike in outline.
Second Omen (Ex): Scenting (Predatory Sensory 2): The characters nose and mouth merge slightly, gaining what looks like the beginnings of a muzzle. The character gains the Scent Feat, and subsequently the Track feat.
Third Omen (Ex): Bestial Vision: The characters eyes take on a predatory look, much like that of a large cat, including slitted pupils and coloring. The character gains Low-Light Vision, and an additional +2 to spot and a +2 to survival and search.
Fourth Omen (Ex): Apex Sensory: The character gains darkvision 60' and may take a 10 on skill rolls related to tracking or hunting, even when conditions would normally prevent this. The character may additionally track at full speed, and only suffers the lesser penalty for tracking at normal speed when tracking at a run.
((That is an example of the Omens available, you'll notice that they all feed into each other. Your character can of course, intermingle different omen types, however, this may limit its effectiveness later, since it won't be able to master an omen below second. Other Omen lines include abilities more similar to a druids animal companion.))
Speak with Animals (Su): The character is now capable of speaking with animals at will, as the druid spell, as a Druid of the character's level..
Intrinstic Instinct (Ex): The character is becoming close enough to it's spirit animal that it can now sense things around it that are supernatural in nature, such as undead and lychanthropes, or extremely powerful magic.
Feral Senses: The character may now make passive rolls and take 10's on spot and listen. This represents the characters heightened survival insticts.
First Spirit Aspect: The character may now bring out it's animal spirit, and integrate it into itself. The character takes on an exagerated hybrid form, more (base race) than animal, but with obvious animal traits. (As a Tiger it gains a +4 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +4 Constitution, +20 Movement, +8 Spot, Listen, Survival. Claws, and Fangs. (please note, it is possible to gain bonuses to this earlier through Omens. This uses a charge of Animalism.)
Natural Kinship: The character is always considered one step towards friendly, up to devoted for purposes of interacting with animals of its kind. (Tiger Animalist has bonuses with Felines, Wolf Animalist has Bonus with any wolves/dogs.)
First Omen Advancement: The character's first omen becomes more potent, they gain double the skill bonuses from this omen. If it does not grant a skill bonus, they instead increase it's effects by one step, damage dice by one size category, or primary attribute by 1, in example, damage reduction or natural armor, improves by 1. The bonuses provided by this ability improve every three levels after this is gained. Remember multiplication does not make the double a quadruple, but a triple.
Animalistic Power: The character gains permanent racial statistical bonuses as they begin to change more rapidly. (Tiger gains +2 strength, dex and con.)
Second Omen Advancement: The character's Second Omen improved in a similar manner to the first omen. (In this instance, the character gains the ability to distinguish between individuals by scent.)
Third Omen Advancement: The character's Third Omen improves in a similar manner to the second and first omens. (In this instance, low-light vision range doubles, along with the skill bonuses.)
Fourth Omen Advancement: The character's Fourth Omen improves "...". (In this instance, the character may take 20's on the relevant skill checks, and the Darkvision extends out to 120' or becomes color, instead of B&W.)
Omen Mastery: The character may select any second or higher rank Omen which the character possesses, and advance it an additional step, or may select any fifth rank Omen.
Natural Perfection: The character's type changes to the type as their spirit's inspiration. (In this case, Animal) In addition, the character gains the subtype shapeshifter, and may electively activate or Supress any Omens or Animalisms at will. The character may also chose to take on an animal form, remaining it's original size, or changing its size for two uses in a day. If the creature is larger, (Such as a dire bear) the character may spend charges to increase its size up to that of its animal. Animals of the appropriate types are always considered friendly towards the character unless the character does something that would anger family. (A tiger can walk into a lion den and will be left unscathed.)