Afgncaap5
2014-06-03, 12:38 AM
Some of my players are about to head to a kingdom known for its surprising tenacity against superior opponents, despite not having much of an aptitude for magic. I was going to be designing a prestige class for some of the royal guards to set them apart from some of the other enemies that they've met, but I wanted suggestions for ways that I could improve it (both mechanically and lore-wise.)
Level
Base Attack Bonus
Fort Save
Ref Save
Will Save
Special
1st
+0
+2
+0
+2
Martial Counterspell, Pseudospells
2nd
+1
+3
+0
+3
Readied Reflection
3rd
+2
+3
+1
+3
Maelstrom Shaping
4th
+3
+4
+1
+4
Concealing Sacrifice
5th
+3
+4
+1
+4
Readied Efficiency
I'm not sure about skill selection (apart from Spellcraft and probably the Knowledges Arcana and History). I'm considering a d6 hit die, but since it's largely a class meant for body guards the argument might be made for d8. In my head, the abilities of this class only work if the person is wielding a weapon or suitable focusing device (like a rod) made out of cold iron. I'm not sure if I like the name "Ferrous Defender" but honestly can't think of something else that I like more. As for a description of the various abilities...
Martial Counterspell (Ex): A Ferrous Defender may counterspell a spell being cast just as a mage may. With a successful Spellcraft check (DC 15 + the level of the spell being cast), a Ferrous Defender can identify a spell as it is being cast. The Ferrous Defender may then make a regular attack roll at his or her highest attack modifier while emulating an pseudospell (see below). If the pseudospell is appropriate and the attack roll is equal to or greater than the caster level of the spell being cast, the Ferrous Defender creates an eldritch wave of energy that counters the spell as it is cast.
Pseudospells (Ex): A Ferrous Defender knows a number of Pseudospells. A Pseudospell is usually a placeholder for a broad form of magic such as a school (like evocation or conjuration) or a descriptor (such as fire or compulsion). Each Pseudospell has a level, as a regular spell does. A Ferrous Defender knows a number of Pseudospells as a Sorcerer (treating the Ferrous Defender’s Base Attack Bonus as the effective Sorcerer level.) A Pseudospell can only counter a spell of equal level or lower to itself, and only if it’s a spell of the same school or same descriptor (or a diametrically opposed descriptor, such as good/evil, earth/air, fire/cold, fire/water, etc.)
Readied Reflection (Ex): If a Ferrous Defender identifies a spell as one that will produce a ray or a line effect, the Ferrous Defender may choose not to counter the spell but, instead, to reflect it in another direction (including back at the caster who cast the spell.) The area of the line or range of the ray is recalculated to start from the Ferrous Defender’s position, but is reduced to account for the distance the spell has already traveled. Anyone affected by a line before it reached the Ferrous Defender is unaffected if it moves back through their area if they successfully saved against it the first time; they are entitled to another save when it moves back through their area if they didn’t successfully save the first time. The Ferrous Defender is treated as the caster of the spell after deflecting it in this manner.
Maelstrom Shaping (Ex): If a Ferrous Defender identifies a spell as one that will have an area in the form of an Emanation or Spread, the Ferrous Defender may, if the area of the spell touches the Ferrous Defender’s space, use a complicated sequence of maneuvers to pull the entirety of the effect toward them and in another direction as an alternative to countering the spell. The spell effectively becomes two lines, one heading toward the Ferrous Defender, and one heading away with a total distance equal to the number of spaces that the spell would have taken up regularly. The Ferrous Defender is treated as being in the spell’s area of effect, but also as having successfully saved against the spell.
Concealing Sacrifice (Ex): If the Ferrous Defender determines that a spell being cast is a Burst spell, the Ferrous Defender may leap upon the point of origin of the spell (assuming that the spell is within the Ferrous Defender movement range) and contain the point of origin of the spell within him or herself as an alternative to countering the spell. The Ferrous Defender will provide concealment for everyone within range of the Burst, but will take the full effect of the spell as if it had been Empowered as through the Empower Spell metamagic feat. The Ferrous Defender may make a fortitude or will save to resist the effects if those saves are appropriate to the spell, but not a reflex save.
Readied Efficiency (Ex): At fifth level, the Ferrous Defender is able to fully combine his or her martial techniques with counterspelling techniques. If a Ferrous Defender has multiple attacks available, the Ferrous Defender may attempt to counterspell once per attack (though each extra attack is reduced as usual for multiple attacks in a round.)
Any thoughts on how it works, or if it could be improved?
Level
Base Attack Bonus
Fort Save
Ref Save
Will Save
Special
1st
+0
+2
+0
+2
Martial Counterspell, Pseudospells
2nd
+1
+3
+0
+3
Readied Reflection
3rd
+2
+3
+1
+3
Maelstrom Shaping
4th
+3
+4
+1
+4
Concealing Sacrifice
5th
+3
+4
+1
+4
Readied Efficiency
I'm not sure about skill selection (apart from Spellcraft and probably the Knowledges Arcana and History). I'm considering a d6 hit die, but since it's largely a class meant for body guards the argument might be made for d8. In my head, the abilities of this class only work if the person is wielding a weapon or suitable focusing device (like a rod) made out of cold iron. I'm not sure if I like the name "Ferrous Defender" but honestly can't think of something else that I like more. As for a description of the various abilities...
Martial Counterspell (Ex): A Ferrous Defender may counterspell a spell being cast just as a mage may. With a successful Spellcraft check (DC 15 + the level of the spell being cast), a Ferrous Defender can identify a spell as it is being cast. The Ferrous Defender may then make a regular attack roll at his or her highest attack modifier while emulating an pseudospell (see below). If the pseudospell is appropriate and the attack roll is equal to or greater than the caster level of the spell being cast, the Ferrous Defender creates an eldritch wave of energy that counters the spell as it is cast.
Pseudospells (Ex): A Ferrous Defender knows a number of Pseudospells. A Pseudospell is usually a placeholder for a broad form of magic such as a school (like evocation or conjuration) or a descriptor (such as fire or compulsion). Each Pseudospell has a level, as a regular spell does. A Ferrous Defender knows a number of Pseudospells as a Sorcerer (treating the Ferrous Defender’s Base Attack Bonus as the effective Sorcerer level.) A Pseudospell can only counter a spell of equal level or lower to itself, and only if it’s a spell of the same school or same descriptor (or a diametrically opposed descriptor, such as good/evil, earth/air, fire/cold, fire/water, etc.)
Readied Reflection (Ex): If a Ferrous Defender identifies a spell as one that will produce a ray or a line effect, the Ferrous Defender may choose not to counter the spell but, instead, to reflect it in another direction (including back at the caster who cast the spell.) The area of the line or range of the ray is recalculated to start from the Ferrous Defender’s position, but is reduced to account for the distance the spell has already traveled. Anyone affected by a line before it reached the Ferrous Defender is unaffected if it moves back through their area if they successfully saved against it the first time; they are entitled to another save when it moves back through their area if they didn’t successfully save the first time. The Ferrous Defender is treated as the caster of the spell after deflecting it in this manner.
Maelstrom Shaping (Ex): If a Ferrous Defender identifies a spell as one that will have an area in the form of an Emanation or Spread, the Ferrous Defender may, if the area of the spell touches the Ferrous Defender’s space, use a complicated sequence of maneuvers to pull the entirety of the effect toward them and in another direction as an alternative to countering the spell. The spell effectively becomes two lines, one heading toward the Ferrous Defender, and one heading away with a total distance equal to the number of spaces that the spell would have taken up regularly. The Ferrous Defender is treated as being in the spell’s area of effect, but also as having successfully saved against the spell.
Concealing Sacrifice (Ex): If the Ferrous Defender determines that a spell being cast is a Burst spell, the Ferrous Defender may leap upon the point of origin of the spell (assuming that the spell is within the Ferrous Defender movement range) and contain the point of origin of the spell within him or herself as an alternative to countering the spell. The Ferrous Defender will provide concealment for everyone within range of the Burst, but will take the full effect of the spell as if it had been Empowered as through the Empower Spell metamagic feat. The Ferrous Defender may make a fortitude or will save to resist the effects if those saves are appropriate to the spell, but not a reflex save.
Readied Efficiency (Ex): At fifth level, the Ferrous Defender is able to fully combine his or her martial techniques with counterspelling techniques. If a Ferrous Defender has multiple attacks available, the Ferrous Defender may attempt to counterspell once per attack (though each extra attack is reduced as usual for multiple attacks in a round.)
Any thoughts on how it works, or if it could be improved?