TreadHead42
2007-02-12, 09:11 AM
Alright, so last night I could not sleep, so I decided to try and make the Soul Knife class into what I feel it should be. I've always liked the class, but it just never how I envisoned it. I always saw it as a Ranger/Rogue hybrid. Now keep in mind I tried to keep it in-line with other classes, but this is my first try at anything of the sort. So, here are my proposed changes:
Hit Die
d8.
Class Skills
The Soul Knife’s class skills are Autohypnosis (Wis), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge (psionics) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex) and Use Psionic Device (Cha).
Skill Points at 1st Level
(4 + Int modifier) ×4.
1st Mind Blade, Weapon Focus: Mind Blade, Wild Talent
2nd Bonus Feat
3rd Soul Strike +1d6, Strike Focus
4th +1 mind blade, Evasion
5th Soul Strike +2d6, Free Draw
6th Mind Blade Enhancement +1, Speed of Thought
7th Soul Strike +3d6, Improved Mind Blade
8th +2 Mind Blade
9th Soul Strike +4d6, Greater Weapon Focus: Mind Blade
10th Mind Blade Enhancement +2
11th Soul Strike +5d6, Quick Focus
12th +3 Mind Blade, Improved Evasion
13th Soul Strike +6d6, Greater Mind Blade
14th Mind Blade Enhancement +3
15th Soul Strike +7d6
16th +4 mind blade, Knife to the Soul
17th Soul Strike +8d6, Bladewind
18th Mind Blade Enhancement +4
19th Soul Strike +9d6, Superior Mind Blade
20th +5 mind blade
Mind Blade (Su):
As a move action, a soulknife can create a semisolid blade composed of psychic energy distilled from his own mind. The blade is identical in all ways (except visually) to a short sword of a size appropriate for its wielder. For instance, a Medium soulknife materializes a Medium mind blade that he can wield as a light weapon, and the blade deals 1d6 points of damage (crit 19-20/×2). Soulknives who are smaller or larger than Medium create mind blades identical to short swords appropriate for their size, with a corresponding change to the blade’s damage. The wielder of a mind blade gains the usual benefits to his attack roll and damage roll from a high Strength bonus.
The blade can be broken (it has hardness 10 and 10 hit points); however, a soulknife can simply create another on his next move action. The moment he relinquishes his grip on his blade, it dissipates. A mind blade is considered a magic weapon for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
A soulknife can use feats such as Power Attack or Combat Expertise in conjunction with the mind blade just as if it were a normal weapon. He can also choose mind blade for feats requiring a specific weapon choice, such as Weapon Specialization. Powers or spells that upgrade weapons can be used on a mind blade.
A soulknife’s mind blade improves as the character gains higher levels. At 4th level and every four levels thereafter, the mind blade gains a cumulative +1 enhancement bonus on attack rolls and damage rolls (+2 at 8th level, +3 at 12th level, +4 at 16th level, and +5 at 20th level). This ability costs 100xp per enhancement (100xp for +1, 200xp for +2, etc), and requires 8 full hours of concentration to enhance the mind blade.
Even in places where psionic effects do not normally function (such as within a null psionics field), a soulknife can attempt to sustain his mind blade by making a DC 20 Will save. On a successful save, the soulknife maintains his mind blade for a number of rounds equal to his class level before he needs to check again. On an unsuccessful attempt, the mind blade vanishes. As a move action on his turn, the soulknife can attempt a new Will save to rematerialize his mind blade while he remains within the psionics negating effect.
Strike Focus (Su):
Whenever a Soulknife is psionically focused he can spend 1 power point as a move action to imbue his mind blade with destructive psionic energy. This last for a number of rounds equal to the Soul Knife's class level, or until he attacks with the mind blade. A Soul Knife get's bonus power points from having a high Charisma score. Use the Soul Knife levels to determine the amount of bonus power points. He can only use power points derived from his Soul Knife class levels, points gained from a feat (and dedicated to the Soul Knife) or bonus power points provided by the Soul Knife's race. These points cannot be used by any other class or for any other purpose. Remember, a Soul Knife must retain at least 1 power point to manifest his mind blade!
Soul Strike (Su):
Whenever the Soul Knife imbues his mind blade with Strike Focus, the mind blade deals an additional number of dice of damage according to their level. This damages the very soul of the creature. Therefore it can only apply to the next living, nonmindless target he successfully hits with a melee attack. Weapons using Soul Strike cannot benefit from any other effect that deals addtional dice of damage. This means no psionic weapon, sneak attack or skirmish or any other effect that gives additonal damage dice. Elemental damage dice still apply (from flaming, shock, flaming burst, etc). The mind blade is too focused on his Soul Strike to use any other special attacks, or channel any more power through the blade. A mind blade still can benefit form such effects, but not while it is channeling a Soul Strike.
Improved Mind Blade (Su):
At 7th level the Soul Knife is able to increase the destructive powers of his mind blade. The damage increases to 1d8, all other starts remain the same. It increase to 1d10 at 13th level, and 2d6 at 19th level.
Quick Focus (Su):
At 11th level a Soul Knife can use Strike Focus as a swift action.
So, what do you think? Now please, this is my first time trying this, and I tried my best to balance it out, don't just post "OMG! THATS MEGA X3 CHEESEASAURAUS WITH A SIDE OF NACHO!". I want to try and make a balanced and more enjoyable class out of the Soul Knife. It's one of my favorites concept wise, but I felt it needed a little more definition stat wise. So please, post about anything you see as too powerful, do not understand or other changes I could make.
Hit Die
d8.
Class Skills
The Soul Knife’s class skills are Autohypnosis (Wis), Climb (Str), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Knowledge (psionics) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Profession (Wis), Spot (Wis), Tumble (Dex) and Use Psionic Device (Cha).
Skill Points at 1st Level
(4 + Int modifier) ×4.
1st Mind Blade, Weapon Focus: Mind Blade, Wild Talent
2nd Bonus Feat
3rd Soul Strike +1d6, Strike Focus
4th +1 mind blade, Evasion
5th Soul Strike +2d6, Free Draw
6th Mind Blade Enhancement +1, Speed of Thought
7th Soul Strike +3d6, Improved Mind Blade
8th +2 Mind Blade
9th Soul Strike +4d6, Greater Weapon Focus: Mind Blade
10th Mind Blade Enhancement +2
11th Soul Strike +5d6, Quick Focus
12th +3 Mind Blade, Improved Evasion
13th Soul Strike +6d6, Greater Mind Blade
14th Mind Blade Enhancement +3
15th Soul Strike +7d6
16th +4 mind blade, Knife to the Soul
17th Soul Strike +8d6, Bladewind
18th Mind Blade Enhancement +4
19th Soul Strike +9d6, Superior Mind Blade
20th +5 mind blade
Mind Blade (Su):
As a move action, a soulknife can create a semisolid blade composed of psychic energy distilled from his own mind. The blade is identical in all ways (except visually) to a short sword of a size appropriate for its wielder. For instance, a Medium soulknife materializes a Medium mind blade that he can wield as a light weapon, and the blade deals 1d6 points of damage (crit 19-20/×2). Soulknives who are smaller or larger than Medium create mind blades identical to short swords appropriate for their size, with a corresponding change to the blade’s damage. The wielder of a mind blade gains the usual benefits to his attack roll and damage roll from a high Strength bonus.
The blade can be broken (it has hardness 10 and 10 hit points); however, a soulknife can simply create another on his next move action. The moment he relinquishes his grip on his blade, it dissipates. A mind blade is considered a magic weapon for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
A soulknife can use feats such as Power Attack or Combat Expertise in conjunction with the mind blade just as if it were a normal weapon. He can also choose mind blade for feats requiring a specific weapon choice, such as Weapon Specialization. Powers or spells that upgrade weapons can be used on a mind blade.
A soulknife’s mind blade improves as the character gains higher levels. At 4th level and every four levels thereafter, the mind blade gains a cumulative +1 enhancement bonus on attack rolls and damage rolls (+2 at 8th level, +3 at 12th level, +4 at 16th level, and +5 at 20th level). This ability costs 100xp per enhancement (100xp for +1, 200xp for +2, etc), and requires 8 full hours of concentration to enhance the mind blade.
Even in places where psionic effects do not normally function (such as within a null psionics field), a soulknife can attempt to sustain his mind blade by making a DC 20 Will save. On a successful save, the soulknife maintains his mind blade for a number of rounds equal to his class level before he needs to check again. On an unsuccessful attempt, the mind blade vanishes. As a move action on his turn, the soulknife can attempt a new Will save to rematerialize his mind blade while he remains within the psionics negating effect.
Strike Focus (Su):
Whenever a Soulknife is psionically focused he can spend 1 power point as a move action to imbue his mind blade with destructive psionic energy. This last for a number of rounds equal to the Soul Knife's class level, or until he attacks with the mind blade. A Soul Knife get's bonus power points from having a high Charisma score. Use the Soul Knife levels to determine the amount of bonus power points. He can only use power points derived from his Soul Knife class levels, points gained from a feat (and dedicated to the Soul Knife) or bonus power points provided by the Soul Knife's race. These points cannot be used by any other class or for any other purpose. Remember, a Soul Knife must retain at least 1 power point to manifest his mind blade!
Soul Strike (Su):
Whenever the Soul Knife imbues his mind blade with Strike Focus, the mind blade deals an additional number of dice of damage according to their level. This damages the very soul of the creature. Therefore it can only apply to the next living, nonmindless target he successfully hits with a melee attack. Weapons using Soul Strike cannot benefit from any other effect that deals addtional dice of damage. This means no psionic weapon, sneak attack or skirmish or any other effect that gives additonal damage dice. Elemental damage dice still apply (from flaming, shock, flaming burst, etc). The mind blade is too focused on his Soul Strike to use any other special attacks, or channel any more power through the blade. A mind blade still can benefit form such effects, but not while it is channeling a Soul Strike.
Improved Mind Blade (Su):
At 7th level the Soul Knife is able to increase the destructive powers of his mind blade. The damage increases to 1d8, all other starts remain the same. It increase to 1d10 at 13th level, and 2d6 at 19th level.
Quick Focus (Su):
At 11th level a Soul Knife can use Strike Focus as a swift action.
So, what do you think? Now please, this is my first time trying this, and I tried my best to balance it out, don't just post "OMG! THATS MEGA X3 CHEESEASAURAUS WITH A SIDE OF NACHO!". I want to try and make a balanced and more enjoyable class out of the Soul Knife. It's one of my favorites concept wise, but I felt it needed a little more definition stat wise. So please, post about anything you see as too powerful, do not understand or other changes I could make.