Cat juggling prestige class. Ideas

[paigeoliver]

They take the little kitties, 10 or 12 weeks old and they juggle them for money.

I run a campaign in which cat juggling (and cat racing) is a common form of entertainment, and often gambled on.

At a convention over the weekend one of my players and I started talking about the possibility of a prestige class for cat jugglers who would throw cats at people.

Any ideas for what the prestige class abilities should be? I already sort of figured that the requirements for entry would be Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Cat, 8 ranks in Perform: Cat Juggling, and 5 ranks in handle animal.

Tossing cats at people doesn't actually do any damage directly, but the cats can then attack, grapple, attempt to disarm or otherwise distract the people they are thrown at.

I figure this would be best as a 5 level prestige class, and it should not have ANY magical abilities.

I know this is pretty silly, but it would actually fit into my campaign.

[Innis Cabal]

yes it does seem a tad silly

[Sage in the Playground]

Do it! DO IT!

[Inyssius Tor]

I love it. Suggestions later.

[Kyace]

Some people juggle geese.

[paigeoliver]

yes it does seem a tad silly

Yes, totally silly. But cat juggling is very established in my campaign. One character nearly lost his life over a cat juggling incident.

Ramalama Dingdong was eating at Alvin's Hot Dog and Pie Haven and on his way out he spotted a juggler juggling 4 cats and a group of pirates and sailors standing around making bets. Ramalama thought it would be funny to Eldritch blast one of the cats, and ended up with a bunch of pistols pointed at him and several unhappy pirates demanding he pay their lost bets.

[Innis Cabal]

i believe you, i really do, i wish i could post pictures from my computer becuase i think i have a picture that is perfect for this thread

[paigeoliver]

Ok, here are a few ideas for abilities.

Distracting cat.

This cat juggling trick involves tossing a cat onto an opponent in an attempt to break their concentration. This is a ranged touch attack, and the defender must make a concentration check opposed by the thrower's attack roll. If they lose then their concentration is broken.

Returning cat.

You have specially trained your cats to come back to you after being tossed. When throwing each cat make a DC 20 handle animal check, and if successful the cat will come back to you after it's actions are completed. You cannot throw the same cat multiple times in the same round using this ability, as they need some time to run back to you.

Bouncing cat.

Requires Distracting cat.

You can throw a cat in such a manner that it will leap off of one opponent onto another. The first target must be a "distracting cat" attack, and is at -4 to roll. The second target must be within 10' feet of the original target, you can use any cat trick you have with this attack, but it is at -4 to hit.

[paigeoliver]

Grapple cat

When using this ability you throw a cat at an opponent and the cat proceeds to grapple the opponent. This is a ranged touch attack and the cat substitutes your attack roll for the grapple check in the first round of the grapple. After the first round it uses its own grapple check of -12.

Attack cat

You throw a cat at an opponent in such a manner that it will scratch or bite the opponent upon impact. A cat used in this manner does 1-2 damage which cannot be modified by strength or dexterity, but can be improved by feats like Weapon Specialization or by using the magic fang spell on the cat prior to throwing.

[kellandros]

Any chance you could combine these skills with other animals? Like, say a bag of tricks?

Then again, get strength 20, and an animal companion(say ... tiger, displacer beast, etc) and you have created the epic form of this PrC.

[paigeoliver]

Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Cat) You throw a cat at an opponent in such a manner that it will scratch or bite the opponent upon impact. A cat used in this manner does 1-2 damage which cannot be modified by strength or dexterity, but can be improved by feats like Weapon Specialization or by using the magic fang spell on the cat prior to throwing.

Cats have a range modifier of 10 feet.

Cats cannot be effectively used as weapons without the exotic weapon proficiency.

[paigeoliver]

Cat Juggler

The Cat Juggler is a performer who has taken the art of cat juggling past the realm of performance art and into the realm of weaponry.

Adventures: Cat jugglers rarely involve themselves in wilderness or dungeon adventures, usually preferring to stick to population centers. City adventures where they can show off their special abilities is where the cat juggler can truly excel.

Characteristics: Cat jugglers are usually born performers, often eager to please a crowd and to line their pockets with gold. Most cat jugglers bear many old scars from various cat scratches and bites they have suffered over the years.

Alignment: Cat jugglers can be of any alignment, but very few of them are lawful. Most cat jugglers tend toward chaotic alignments.

Religion: As a class cat jugglers don’t tend towards any particular religious leanings, other than the fact that few of them are devoted followers of lawful gods.

Other Classes: Most other character classes view cat jugglers as little more than street performers, although most rogues and bards can appreciate the amount of skill that goes into their work.

Abilities: Cat jugglers are best served by a high dexterity score along with a high charisma score, as both are important when it comes to the art of cat juggling.

Becoming a Cat Juggler

There are many paths into the Cat Juggler prestige class, although most cat jugglers have at least one level of Rogue or Bard.

Entry Requirements
Feat: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Cat)
Skills: Perform (Cat juggling) 8 ranks, Handle Animal 5 ranks.


Class Features:
As Cat Jugglers grow in power they learn how to throw and control cats in many different ways.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency
Cat Jugglers gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor. Cat Jugglers wearing heavy armor are unable to use many of their class abilities due to the encumbrance of the armor.



Quick Draw (Ex) A cat juggler gains Quick Draw as a bonus feat at first level, even if he would not normally qualify for it. A Cat Juggler wearing heavy armor or carrying a heavy load loses the benefits of Quick Draw.

Rapid Shot (Ex) A cat juggler gains Rapid Shot as a bonus feat at third level, even if he would not normally qualify for it. A Cat Juggler wearing heavy armor or carrying a heavy load loses the benefits of Rapid shot.

Sneak Cat (Ex) A 5th level cat juggler may carefully throw a single cat as a standard action and his opponent will be considered flat footed when the cat strikes him.

Cat Tricks (Ex) At each level a Cat Juggler may select a new cat trick to use. Cat tricks can be used with any small animal that the cat juggler has taken an exotic weapon proficiency with.

Distracting cat.

This cat juggling trick involves tossing a cat onto an opponent in an attempt to break their concentration. This is a ranged touch attack, and the defender must make a concentration check opposed by the thrower's attack roll. If they lose then their concentration is broken.

Returning cat.

You have specially trained your cats to come back to you after being tossed. When throwing each cat make a DC 20 handle animal check, and if successful the cat will come back to you after it's actions are completed. You cannot throw the same cat multiple times in the same round using this ability, as they need some time to run back to you.

Grapple cat

When using this ability you throw a cat at an opponent and the cat proceeds to grapple the opponent. This is a ranged touch attack and the cat substitutes your attack roll for the grapple check in the first round of the grapple. After the first round it uses its own grapple check of -12.

Bouncing cat.

Requires Distracting cat.

You can throw a cat in such a manner that it will leap off of one opponent onto another. The first target must be a "distracting cat" attack, and is at -4 to roll. The second target must be within 10' feet of the original target, you can use any cat trick you have with this attack, but it is at -4 to hit.

In the Pants

A cat juggler using this trick can throw a cat in such a manner that the cat will end up inside the armor or clothing of the creature he throws the cat at. This requires both an attack roll at -6 and a DC 20 handle animal check. If the handle animal check is failed then the cat will simply do the normal damage for a cat used as a weapon.

If the handle animal check succeeds then the cat will end up inside the foes clothing where it can perform a full round attack at +2 to hit each round. The cat attacks versus AC 10 plus the natural armor bonus of the creature it is attacking, ignoring armor, shield, circumstance, competence, deflection, size, dexterity, morale, unnamed and enhancement bonuses to armor class.

Alchemical, Insight, Luck, Profane and Sacred bonuses to armor class also apply to the cat’s attacks.

Hit Die
d8

Class Skills (6 + Int modifier per level): Bluff, Concentration, Diplomacy, Disguise, Handle Animal, Heal, Hide, Knowledge (Local), Listen, Move Silently, Perform, Sleight of Hand, Spot, Tumble.



Level
Lvl BAB Fort Ref Will Special
1 +1 +0 +2 +0 Quick Draw. Cat trick.
2 +2 +0 +3 +0 Cat trick
3 +3 +1 +3 +1 Rapid Shot, Cat trick
4 +4 +1 +4 +1 Cat trick
5 +5 +1 +4 +1 Sneak Cat, Cat trick.

[paigeoliver]

Bag of Cats

This small sack appears normal and empty. However, anyone reaching into the bag feels a small, fuzzy ball. If the ball is removed and tossed it turns into a trained juggling cat.

Each bag can produce up to 10 cats at a time. Slain cats or cats not returned to the bag are replaced at the rate of 1 cat per day.

Faint or moderate conjuration; CL 3rd; Craft Wonderous Item, Any summoning spell; Price 900 GP.

Bag of Magic Cats.

The same as the Bag of Cats, except that the cats have an enhancement bonus to hit and damage. Cats not returned to the bag lose their enhancement bonus at the rate of one plus per day.

Faint or moderate conjuration; CL 3rd-15th; Craft Wonderous Item, Any summoning spell, Magic Weapon or Magic Fang; Price 4,900 gp (Bag of Cats +1); 16,900 gp (Bag of Cats +2); 36,900 gp (Bag of Cats +3); 64,900 (Bag of Cats +4); 100,900 (Bag of Cats +5).

Other weapon special abilities may be placed on a Bag of Cats, but they are at twice the normal cost. Thus a Bag of +1 Flaming Cats would cost 16,900 GP, a Bag of +1 Holy Cats would cost 36,900 GP, and a bag of +1 Dancing Cats would cost 100,900 GP. Magic cats not returned to the bag lose their special abilities after 24 hours.

[ZebulonCrispi]

How about a Greater Bag of Magic Cats, which can apply special modifiers to the cats beyond a straight numeric bonus. Wounding Cats! Dancing Cats! Holy Avenger Cats! Vorpal Cats!

[paigeoliver]

The last paragraph of the Bag of Magic cats allowed for cats with special modifiers. It just costs double because the enhancement bonuses on a bag of cats cost double, this is because it makes a bunch of cats and not just a single cat.


How about a Greater Bag of Magic Cats, which can apply special modifiers to the cats beyond a straight numeric bonus. Wounding Cats! Dancing Cats! Holy Avenger Cats! Vorpal Cats!

[ZebulonCrispi]

I can read, I swear.

[Grim Greyscale]

Hm. Some changes to to your cat tricks, that I think work better.


Distracting Cat.

This cat juggling trick involves tossing a cat onto an opponent in an attempt to break their concentration. As a standard action, or as part of a full attack action, make a ranged touch attack against your opponent. If you hit, they must make a concentration check opposed by your attack roll or their concentration is broken, making them unable to cast spells, or do any other action that requires concentration, for one round.
Bouncing Cat.

Requires Distracting Cat.

You can throw a cat in such a manner that it will leap off of one opponent onto another. As a full-round action, make a ranged touch attack against an opponent, at a -4 penalty. If you hit, they suffer all the effects of a Distracting Cat, and then the cat can bounce to another target within 10ft, who also suffers the effects of a Distracting Cat. A cat can "Bounce" a number of times equal to your levels in Cat Juggler, or until there are no more targets within range.
In the Pants

Requires Grapple Cat.

A cat juggler using this trick can throw a cat in such a manner that the cat will end up inside the armor or clothing of the creature he throws the cat at. As a standard action, or as part of a full attack action, make an attack roll at -6 penalty, and a DC 20 handle animal check.

If the handle animal check is failed then the cat will simply do the normal damage for a cat used as a weapon. If the handle animal check succeeds then the cat will end up inside the foes clothing where it can rake each round for 1d4+1 damage.

A cat can be removed by successfully pinning it, then using a move action to throw it away.I'll try to think up of some new Cat Tricks, too. This topic is hilarious.

[Haruspex]

The cat juggler should get speak with animals (cats only) as a class ability. Maybe based on the gnome racial ability.

[Nerd-o-rama]

Some people juggle geese.
This wins almost as much as the topic.

And as an averred cat person, I must say that this idea is both wonderful and horrible.

[paigeoliver]

I do like the idea of "In the Pants" requiring grapple cat. I am not sure about changing some of the tricks to standard or full round actions. I put the quick draw and rapid shot into the class because I imagined the juggler tossing out all his cats very quickly.

I also really liked the simplification of the cat attacking inside the clothing. I made it more complex than it had to be.

Once I get some more tricks worked into the class I will do some playtesting using both methods, yours with the standard actions and mine where most of the tricks can be done with any attack. If I do switch to standard and full round actions for most tricks then I will change the bonus feats, likely to weapon focus at 1st level and a sneak attack die at 3rd level.

Of course this class should also be complimented with a Cat Wrangler class, for the other cat specialists in the campaign world, the ones that train racing cats.

[ajkkjjk52]

Sneak cat + sneak attack makes this broken. Lets say I have sneak attack 4d6. Each cat I throw does d2+4d6, and you always take sneak attack damage, because no matter how long you've been fighting me, its always surprising when I throw a cat at you.

[Black Mage]

So is this class going to be like the crazy cat lady from the Simpsons?

:eek:



Bag of Magic Cats.

The same as the Bag of Cats, except that the cats have an enhancement bonus to hit and damage. Cats not returned to the bag lose their enhancement bonus at the rate of one plus per day.

Faint or moderate conjuration; CL 3rd-15th; Craft Wonderous Item, Any summoning spell, Magic Weapon or Magic Fang; Price 4,900 gp (Bag of Cats +1); 16,900 gp (Bag of Cats +2); 36,900 gp (Bag of Cats +3); 64,900 (Bag of Cats +4); 100,900 (Bag of Cats +5).

Other weapon special abilities may be placed on a Bag of Cats, but they are at twice the normal cost. Thus a Bag of +1 Flaming Cats would cost 16,900 GP, a Bag of +1 Holy Cats would cost 36,900 GP, and a bag of +1 Dancing Cats would cost 100,900 GP. Magic cats not returned to the bag lose their special abilities after 24 hours.

My....sides....they burn....so....funny.....

[kellandros]

At the last level, shouldn't they get the ability to use cats in melee? I believe the range would be "enough room to swing a cat".

Cat trick- train your cats to go after vital/sensitive areas? A cat scratching at your eyes should provide a rather nasty penalty to other actions until the cat is removed.

[Angafirith]

When the class has been nailed down a bit, do you mind if I use it in my campaign and post it on my campaign wiki? It's too funny to pass up.

[TheThan]

You forgot the Cat in the Hat ability.

Oh and can a character throw Lions, tigers, and other assorted big cats? I mean they are cats you know.

[Black Mage]

You forgot the Cat in the Hat ability.

Oh and can a character throw Lions, tigers, and other assorted big cats? I mean they are cats you know.

I'd imagine they would need a decent strength....you could turn this into a 10 level PrC with the 10th level ability allowing you to throw big cats.

NPC1:"Oh it's just one of those cat jugglers, nothing to worry about."
NPC2:"I don't know, I've heard they are pretty good with their cats."
NPC1:"They are just cats, it's not like they're something to be afraid of."
Cat Juggler: *Reaches into bag*
NPC2: "Is that a dire tiger?! Where the bloody hell do you get a dire tiger?! And why would you throw one?!"

[Ackapus]

Just as soon as I start to take this thread seriously, I see something else that I can't tell if it's a joke or legit. A Bag of +1 Flaming Cats?

Hands-down, though, this had me falling out of my chair:

I believe the range would be "enough room to swing a cat".

My apologies if this is on the level. I've got four cats, and all I can picture is their reactions to being juggled.

[Grim Greyscale]

I do like the idea of "In the Pants" requiring grapple cat. I am not sure about changing some of the tricks to standard or full round actions. I put the quick draw and rapid shot into the class because I imagined the juggler tossing out all his cats very quickly.

I also really liked the simplification of the cat attacking inside the clothing. I made it more complex than it had to be.

Once I get some more tricks worked into the class I will do some playtesting using both methods, yours with the standard actions and mine where most of the tricks can be done with any attack. If I do switch to standard and full round actions for most tricks then I will change the bonus feats, likely to weapon focus at 1st level and a sneak attack die at 3rd level.

Eep, yeah. That was just bad wording on my part. Fixed it now. I think Bouncing Cat works better as an FRO, though, considering you can hit 5 targets with it at most, whereas with a full attack you could hit a max of 4.

[Black Mage]

This has got to be one of the best threads ever....


Those poor, poor +1 Acid cats...

[Merlin the Tuna]

Sneak cat + sneak attack makes this broken. Lets say I have sneak attack 4d6. Each cat I throw does d2+4d6, and you always take sneak attack damage, because no matter how long you've been fighting me, its always surprising when I throw a cat at you.Only being able to throw one a turn makes it basically Eldritch Blast, but harder to hit with and without scaling in the class that grants it. Which makes it not broken.

Looks. Good. Or at least as good as a class about hurling cats can be considered good.

[Kyace]

Who ordered the bag of spell storing cats with Touch of Idiocy (http://www.xkcd.com/c231.html) stored in it?

[kellandros]

I believe the range would be "enough room to swing a cat".
My apologies if this is on the level. I've got four cats, and all I can picture is their reactions to being juggled.

So just make it like a vicious weapon enchantment(bonus damage, but the wielder also gets injured).

I don't own a cat but I've got enough claw marks from trying to hold one in place to not want to actually TRY swinging one in real life.

[Rnett]

I believe you forgot to list one of the prerequisites. That being a lack of a soul.

But really, this class is hilarious...

[Ackapus]

Commoner #1: "You see that barfight at the tavern last night?"
Commoner #2: "Yeah. I nearly lost my arm!"
Commoner #1: "I can't believe that cat juggler made it out alive, though."
Commoner #2: "Hey man, those guys are clever. Every time they're in a fix, they reach into their bag of tricks."

"Yeah, I crossed paths with a few cat jugglers in my day. The secret, though, is to carry a pouch of catnip with you. All you do is toss it in the air, and run like hell while he's sorting out his cats."

Flea-Bitten Varmits
Your thrown cats carry fleas, ticks, or other small external parasites.
Benefit: Whenever you pull a cat out of your bag, there is a 25% chance of it being a flea-bitten varmit. If you throw it in combat, and it hits, the stricken foe must make a Reflex save (DC= 15 + your Dex mod) or find himself the new host to a small contingent of insects. If he fails the save, thereafter every round he's performing an action while threatened or rushed, he must make a Concentration check to do so or take a -2 moral penalty on any rolls for that round. The target can no longer take 20 on any actions, but may still take 10 albeit at twice the usual length of time. The subject can only remedy this situation by shaving off all hair and bathing for an hour in hot, soapy water, or by a Remove Disease spell. A Cure Itchy Wounds spell will nullify the effects of a Flea-Bitten Varmit for 1 hour.
Normal: Cats let out of the bag normally do not have fleas.

OK, I have to stop now. Still laughing at "Grapple Cat In The Pants".

[paigeoliver]

So far so good everyone. ANybody else have any more cat tricks? Preferably with a least some rough rules text to go with them.

[Tack122]

So can you get cats enchanted at a 1/5th cost if that enchanted cat bag goes through?

(Twice for a bag that gives infinite cats? so at most 1/5th cost for enchanting them if they aren't from an infinite source... How do you work out the cats survival? Perhaps a class feature granting all your cats dr100/- or do they not survive at all?)

[paigeoliver]

You can't get real live cats enchanted at all. It only works for the cats produced by the bag, which lose their bonus after a day if you don't stuff them back in there.

[Predhack]

I give you the latest in cat weaponry!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uWCVYb9wp4&mode=related&search=

On the question of the enchanted cats. Could you take out the same cat many times and just put it back occaisionally? Or would it be random kitties.

[Tack122]

Then how about a way in which you could get a bag that makes just one type of cat but at a lower number of them and less cost.


I mean come on, you need cats for all sorts of situations.

Cold Iron cats.
Adamantine cats.
Silver cats.
Flaming cats. (for those white dragons!)
Frozen cats. (Red dragons!)
Vorpal cats.
Fish bane cats.
Shocking cats. (longhair + carpet?)
Dancing cats (http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/kittycat.php) (Bonus to a bards something or another check is needed)
Holy cats.
Unholy cats.
+5 cats of wounding. (Don't tell them but they are just those feral cats. Same effect)


And more!

[goat]

Clearly the cat juggler would have a high skill point level, they'd need skills in handle animal, perform, sleight of hand, diplomacy + bluff (No, the cats love it! Really!), heal (to keep the cats going), knowledge(cats)... Never mind craft(cat toy) and profession(cat juggler).

Although, how many of those skills would synergise?

[paddyfool]

Um, for a trick, how about yowling cat?

The idea would be that you target an opponent's head with a cat that has a particularly high-pitched yowl. Effects similar to a thunderstone, plus standard cat attack.

Seriously, however, I'm just cracking up here. Hand me a bag of anarchic cats and let me rain hell on the Paladins' parade!

[Telonius]

Another ability...

Herding Cats
At level 5, the DC of all Handle Animal checks relating to cats is reduced by 15. You can teach cats double the normal number of skill tricks.

[Innis Cabal]

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u131/Tebryn_Cabal/Cats.jpg

[Seraph]

if you tape a piece of buttered toast to a cat's back, can you throw it an infinite distance?

[Innis Cabal]

no that ends the world as gravity tries to right itself to the cats true center and time ceases to be.

[belboz]

In the Pants
[...]The cat attacks versus AC 10 plus the natural armor bonus of the creature it is attacking, ignoring armor, shield, circumstance, competence, deflection, size, dexterity, morale, unnamed and enhancement bonuses to armor class.

Alchemical, Insight, Luck, Profane and Sacred bonuses to armor class also apply to the cat’s attacks.


OK, so I understand why the cat can ignore armor, shield, circumstance, competence, size, dexterity, morale, and enhancement AC bonuses--it's inside the armor, behind the shield, protected from prevailing conditions, can't be avoided by hopping about (even if you feel really good), and already through any magical enhancements you're likely to have.

But why deflection? Does being inside an undead creature's pants really help avoid their innate attack deflection ability? Even for those undead that wear pants?

Not sure about unnamed bonuses either.

And I'm not quite sure why insight bonuses help if competence bonuses don't. *Knowing* that there's a cat in your pants, even knowing exactly *where* in your pants it is, is of limited use.

[Ackapus]

And I'm not quite sure why insight bonuses help if competence bonuses don't. *Knowing* that there's a cat in your pants, even knowing exactly *where* in your pants it is, is of limited use.

This.... this is comedy gold right here....