Aotrs Commander
2007-04-28, 01:08 PM
A noncaster combatant with an emphasis on finding opponents, following them and endurance.
I originally posted up this class on the WotC boards (so any of you familiar with it there will find nothing new at current!), where it has gone through the wringer. So, I thought that now I would share it over here, as it is pretty much in it's final form. Consider it a gift to the Playground or something...
As it stands, Tracker is officially at 'Ready to Play' status (meaning that I envision only having to make minor tweaks - if any - due to playtesting).
So, I hope that this is of some interest or use to some of you! Feedback is welcomed, as always!
Some design notes, ebfore we get to the crux: The Tracker is designed to fill in as a noncasting Ranger(ish) substitute (i.e., someone who can fight, Track and do outdoors-stuff); the original need was for a replacement for a noncasting Ranger for a world where at times, magic is uncommon and so Rangers were even less so.
Balance Note:
Tracker is primarily a combat class, with tracking on top. In addition, this class is balanced with an eye towards Tome of Battle-level combatants, not core melee classes; so it will appear 'better' than the Core Fighter (since the Core Fighter is widely considered a weak class, and doubly so since ToB came out). (I should note that I have modified the Fighter to bring it more into line with the general power level too!)
TRACKER
http://www.cdaccess.com/gifs/screen/discnoir2.jpg
"You can run...but you'll only die tired!"1
A Tracker can follow a target through any environment, tirelessly following them until the target has nowhere left to go. It is said when a Tracker starts on you trail, there is nowhere far enough away to run where they can't find you...
The Tracker’s skills are concentrated into finding, tracking and hiding from their targets, be they enemy, law-breaker or beast. They are just as at home in a forest, desert, city or other environment. Trackers are also competant combatants in their own right.
They are often employed as reconnaissance in military forces; others find employment as expert beast hunters or even bounty hunters.
Trackers in tribal culture are often hunters (of either food or foe). In more 'civilised' lands, Trackers are often encountered in military forces as reconnaissance, pathfinders or in behind-the-lines operations. In urban areas, trackers are often found in the city watches or as freelance individuals2.
Many Trackers, regardless of background find that bounty hunting comes easily to their natural talents.
The Orc scout encountered by Frodo and Sam in Mordor could be one example of a Tracker, as could a character in a 'private detective' role. (As pictured above3)
Game Rule Information:
Abilities: Dexterity is important for both optimising the lighter armour the Trackers wear and many Tracker skills realted to it. Strength and Constitution are important for combat. Wisdom is also a good choice, as Trackers have many skills which are dependant on it.
Races: Any. Any race or type can turn their hand to this pursuit4.
Alignment: Any. Trackers may be of any alignment.
Class Skills: Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Disable Device (Dex), Diplomacy (Cha), Escape Artists (Dex), Handle Animal (Cha), Hide (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering, Dungeoneering, Geography, Local, Nature) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Open Lock (Dex), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Cha), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), Swim (Str), Use Rope (Dex)
Skill Points at 1st level: (6+Int mod) x 4
Skill Points at each Additional Level: 6+Int mod
Hit Die: D10
Base
Attack Fort Reflex Will
Level Bonus Save Save Save Special
1st +1 +2 +2 +0 Quickstep (+5’), Track, Trailspotter, Urban Tracker
2nd +2 +3 +3 +0 Endurance, Trapfinding
3rd +3 +3 +3 +1 Bonus Feat
4th +4 +4 +4 +1 Damage Reduction 1/-
5th +5 +4 +4 +1 Swift Tracker (Normal speed), Uncanny Dodge
6th +6/+1 +5 +5 +2 Bonus Feat, Quickstep (+10’)
7th +7/+2 +5 +5 +2 Steady Stride
8th +8/+3 +6 +6 +2 Evasion
9th +9/+4 +6 +6 +3 Bonus Feat, Damage Reduction 2/-
10th +10/+5 +7 +7 +3 Master Tracker, Swift Tracker (Any speed)
11th +11/+6/+1 +7 +7 +3 Improved Uncanny Dodge, Quickstep (+15’)
12th +12/+7/+2 +8 +8 +4 Bonus Feat, Greater Endurance
13th +13/+8/+3 +8 +8 +4 Camouflage
14th +14/+9/+4 +9 +9 +4 Damage Reduction 3/-
15th +15/+10/+5 +9 +9 +5 Bonus Feat
16th +16/+11/+6/+1 +10 +10 +5 Quickstep (+20’)
17th +17/+12/+7/+2 +10 +10 +5 Hide in Plain Sight
18th +18/+13/+8/+3 +11 +11 +6 Bonus Feat
19th +19/+14/+9/+4 +11 +11 +6 Damage Reduction 4/-
20th +20/+15/+10/+5 +12 +12 +6 Endless Pursuit
Class Features
Weapon and Armour Proficiencies: A Tracker is proficient with all simple and all martial weapons, light armour and shields (except tower shields).
Quickstep (Ex): A Tracker gains a +5’ bonus to speed (for all movement modes). At 6th level, and every 5 levels theafter, this bonus rises by +5’.
Track: A Tracker gains Track as a bonus Feat.
Trailspotter (Ex): A Tracker passing within 5’ of a trail or tracks is permitted a Survival check to detect them as if he was actively searching for them.
Urban Tracker: A Tracker gains Urban Tracker as a bonus Feat.
Endurance: A Tracker gains Endurance as a bonus Feat at 2nd level.
Trapfinding (Ex): At 2nd level, a Tracker’s sharp eye for detail means he can find things most others would miss. A Tracker can use the Search skill to locate traps when the task has a DC higher than 20.
Finding a nonmagical trap has a DC of at least 20, or higher if it is well hidden. Finding a magic or psionic trap has a DC of 25 + the level of the spell or power used to create it.
If a Tracker has Disable Device, he can use it to disarm magic and psionic traps. Magic and psionic traps generally have a DC of 25 + the level of the spell or power used to create them.
A Tracker who beats a trap's DC by 10 or more with a Disable Device check can study a trap, figure out how it works, and bypass it (with his party) without disarming it.
Bonus Feat: At 3rd level and every 3rd level thereafter, a Tracker gains a Bonus Feat, chosen from the Fighter Bonus Feat list (but not those which have Fighter class levels as a prerequisite, e.g. Weapon Specialisation).
Damage Reduction (Ex): At 4th level, a Tracker has become so ornery and/or resiliant, he gains Damage Reduction 1/-. At 9th level, and every 5 levels thereafter, the Damage Reduction rises by 1 point.
Swift Tracker (Ex): At 5th level a Tracker can move at normal speed while following tracks and suffer no penalty; he only takes a –10 penalty when moving at up to twice speed.
A Tracker may also make a Gather Information check for his Urban Tracking feat every half hour without taking the normal -5 penalty.
At 10th level, the Tracker takes no penalty to follow tracks at any speed.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): Starting at 5th level, a Tracker can react to danger before his senses would normally allow him to do so. He retains his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if he is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. However, he still loses his Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.
If a Tracker already has Uncanny Dodge from a different class he automatically gains Improved Uncanny Dodge instead.
Steady Stride (Ex): At 7th level, a Tracker can move through any sort of undergrowth, light rubble or other inconveniences at normal speed without taking damage or suffering any impairment. This does not work against enchanted or magically manipulated growth, however. This ability does not let the Tracker move more quickly through terrain that requires Climb or Swim checks to navigate. This ability functions regardless of what type or armour the Tracker is wearing, or what type of load they are carrying.
Evasion (Ex): At 8th level a Tracker can avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great agility. If he makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, he instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used only if the Tracker is wearing light armor or no armor. A helpless Tracker does not gain the benefit of Evasion.
Master Tracker (Ex): At 10th level, a Tracker becomes sufficently practised that he can take 10 on tracking or urban tracking rolls to follow a trail he has already discovered (i.e. after his first check succeeded).
Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex): A Tracker of 11th level or higher can no longer be flanked. This defense denies another character the ability to sneak attack the character by flanking him, unless the attacker has at least four more levels of an Uncanny Dodge granting-class than the target does.
If a character already has Uncanny Dodge from a second class, the character automatically gains Improved Uncanny Dodge instead, and the levels from the classes that grant Uncanny Dodge stack to determine the minimum class level required to flank the character.
Greater Endurance (Ex): At 12th level, a Tracker can take 10 on any checks he gains a bonus from from his Endurance feat. The Tracker gets a +4 on saves against effects that cause fatigue or exhaustion.
Camouflage (Ex): At 13th level, a Tracker can use the Hide skill in any sort of terrain, even if there is no cover or concealment.
Hide in Plain Sight (Ex): At 17th level, a Tracker can hide in terrain even when being observed.
Endless Pursuit (Su): At 20th level, a Tracker becomes immune to nonlethal damage, fatigue and exhaustion (except that resulting from starvation or thirst). A Tracker requires only half normal rations and can survive by foraging (for himself only or otehrs with this ability) in any environment that is not completely barren and devoid of any kind of water (including water vapour).
The Tracker needs only sleep 2 hours per day to gain the benefit of 8 hours of sleep. This ability affects other sleep-equivilent forms (e.g. Elven trance) which also require onlt 25% normal time for a complete rest.
Once per day, plus once per point of Constitution bonus, the Tracker can spend an Immediate action to do one of the following:
1) Negate a sucessful Critical Hit as Heavy Fortification (and/or any effect that functions on creatures not immune to critical hits, e.g Sneak Attack) from a single attack.
2) Roll a new saving throw against any effect with a duration of longer than instantaneous that inflicts a negative status (e.g, Blinded, Entangled, Paralysed) that the Tracker is currently suffering from, with a bonus on the roll equal to the Tracker's Constitution bonus.
3) Add a +8 to Escape Artist or Grapple Checks made to exit a Grapple until the end of the Tracker's turn.
Starting Gold: 6D4 x10
Starting Age: As Ranger.
1The quote actually come from an unrelated article way back in Dragon 198, but it was such an awesome one it stuck with me until this very day!
2Leather Trenchcoat, hard-boiled monologues and having an office with your name painted backwards on the glass door optional.
3'Cos damned if I could find a picture on a Morder Orc scout!
4Pun intended.
(Note, if the picture causes problems, let me know and I'll remove it. As it is, this post is mostly a straight cut-and-paste from the WotC boards (plus all the fiddling I had to to bring the table back, since coping from Notepad doesn't seem to hold the breaks like it does there!))
Edit: fixed Tireless/Endless Pursuit name, added a title for the balance bit!
Edit: Added the new stuff to Endless Pursuit.
I originally posted up this class on the WotC boards (so any of you familiar with it there will find nothing new at current!), where it has gone through the wringer. So, I thought that now I would share it over here, as it is pretty much in it's final form. Consider it a gift to the Playground or something...
As it stands, Tracker is officially at 'Ready to Play' status (meaning that I envision only having to make minor tweaks - if any - due to playtesting).
So, I hope that this is of some interest or use to some of you! Feedback is welcomed, as always!
Some design notes, ebfore we get to the crux: The Tracker is designed to fill in as a noncasting Ranger(ish) substitute (i.e., someone who can fight, Track and do outdoors-stuff); the original need was for a replacement for a noncasting Ranger for a world where at times, magic is uncommon and so Rangers were even less so.
Balance Note:
Tracker is primarily a combat class, with tracking on top. In addition, this class is balanced with an eye towards Tome of Battle-level combatants, not core melee classes; so it will appear 'better' than the Core Fighter (since the Core Fighter is widely considered a weak class, and doubly so since ToB came out). (I should note that I have modified the Fighter to bring it more into line with the general power level too!)
TRACKER
http://www.cdaccess.com/gifs/screen/discnoir2.jpg
"You can run...but you'll only die tired!"1
A Tracker can follow a target through any environment, tirelessly following them until the target has nowhere left to go. It is said when a Tracker starts on you trail, there is nowhere far enough away to run where they can't find you...
The Tracker’s skills are concentrated into finding, tracking and hiding from their targets, be they enemy, law-breaker or beast. They are just as at home in a forest, desert, city or other environment. Trackers are also competant combatants in their own right.
They are often employed as reconnaissance in military forces; others find employment as expert beast hunters or even bounty hunters.
Trackers in tribal culture are often hunters (of either food or foe). In more 'civilised' lands, Trackers are often encountered in military forces as reconnaissance, pathfinders or in behind-the-lines operations. In urban areas, trackers are often found in the city watches or as freelance individuals2.
Many Trackers, regardless of background find that bounty hunting comes easily to their natural talents.
The Orc scout encountered by Frodo and Sam in Mordor could be one example of a Tracker, as could a character in a 'private detective' role. (As pictured above3)
Game Rule Information:
Abilities: Dexterity is important for both optimising the lighter armour the Trackers wear and many Tracker skills realted to it. Strength and Constitution are important for combat. Wisdom is also a good choice, as Trackers have many skills which are dependant on it.
Races: Any. Any race or type can turn their hand to this pursuit4.
Alignment: Any. Trackers may be of any alignment.
Class Skills: Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Climb (Str), Craft (Int), Disable Device (Dex), Diplomacy (Cha), Escape Artists (Dex), Handle Animal (Cha), Hide (Dex), Gather Information (Cha), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (Architecture and Engineering, Dungeoneering, Geography, Local, Nature) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Open Lock (Dex), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Cha), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), Swim (Str), Use Rope (Dex)
Skill Points at 1st level: (6+Int mod) x 4
Skill Points at each Additional Level: 6+Int mod
Hit Die: D10
Base
Attack Fort Reflex Will
Level Bonus Save Save Save Special
1st +1 +2 +2 +0 Quickstep (+5’), Track, Trailspotter, Urban Tracker
2nd +2 +3 +3 +0 Endurance, Trapfinding
3rd +3 +3 +3 +1 Bonus Feat
4th +4 +4 +4 +1 Damage Reduction 1/-
5th +5 +4 +4 +1 Swift Tracker (Normal speed), Uncanny Dodge
6th +6/+1 +5 +5 +2 Bonus Feat, Quickstep (+10’)
7th +7/+2 +5 +5 +2 Steady Stride
8th +8/+3 +6 +6 +2 Evasion
9th +9/+4 +6 +6 +3 Bonus Feat, Damage Reduction 2/-
10th +10/+5 +7 +7 +3 Master Tracker, Swift Tracker (Any speed)
11th +11/+6/+1 +7 +7 +3 Improved Uncanny Dodge, Quickstep (+15’)
12th +12/+7/+2 +8 +8 +4 Bonus Feat, Greater Endurance
13th +13/+8/+3 +8 +8 +4 Camouflage
14th +14/+9/+4 +9 +9 +4 Damage Reduction 3/-
15th +15/+10/+5 +9 +9 +5 Bonus Feat
16th +16/+11/+6/+1 +10 +10 +5 Quickstep (+20’)
17th +17/+12/+7/+2 +10 +10 +5 Hide in Plain Sight
18th +18/+13/+8/+3 +11 +11 +6 Bonus Feat
19th +19/+14/+9/+4 +11 +11 +6 Damage Reduction 4/-
20th +20/+15/+10/+5 +12 +12 +6 Endless Pursuit
Class Features
Weapon and Armour Proficiencies: A Tracker is proficient with all simple and all martial weapons, light armour and shields (except tower shields).
Quickstep (Ex): A Tracker gains a +5’ bonus to speed (for all movement modes). At 6th level, and every 5 levels theafter, this bonus rises by +5’.
Track: A Tracker gains Track as a bonus Feat.
Trailspotter (Ex): A Tracker passing within 5’ of a trail or tracks is permitted a Survival check to detect them as if he was actively searching for them.
Urban Tracker: A Tracker gains Urban Tracker as a bonus Feat.
Endurance: A Tracker gains Endurance as a bonus Feat at 2nd level.
Trapfinding (Ex): At 2nd level, a Tracker’s sharp eye for detail means he can find things most others would miss. A Tracker can use the Search skill to locate traps when the task has a DC higher than 20.
Finding a nonmagical trap has a DC of at least 20, or higher if it is well hidden. Finding a magic or psionic trap has a DC of 25 + the level of the spell or power used to create it.
If a Tracker has Disable Device, he can use it to disarm magic and psionic traps. Magic and psionic traps generally have a DC of 25 + the level of the spell or power used to create them.
A Tracker who beats a trap's DC by 10 or more with a Disable Device check can study a trap, figure out how it works, and bypass it (with his party) without disarming it.
Bonus Feat: At 3rd level and every 3rd level thereafter, a Tracker gains a Bonus Feat, chosen from the Fighter Bonus Feat list (but not those which have Fighter class levels as a prerequisite, e.g. Weapon Specialisation).
Damage Reduction (Ex): At 4th level, a Tracker has become so ornery and/or resiliant, he gains Damage Reduction 1/-. At 9th level, and every 5 levels thereafter, the Damage Reduction rises by 1 point.
Swift Tracker (Ex): At 5th level a Tracker can move at normal speed while following tracks and suffer no penalty; he only takes a –10 penalty when moving at up to twice speed.
A Tracker may also make a Gather Information check for his Urban Tracking feat every half hour without taking the normal -5 penalty.
At 10th level, the Tracker takes no penalty to follow tracks at any speed.
Uncanny Dodge (Ex): Starting at 5th level, a Tracker can react to danger before his senses would normally allow him to do so. He retains his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even if he is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible attacker. However, he still loses his Dexterity bonus to AC if immobilized.
If a Tracker already has Uncanny Dodge from a different class he automatically gains Improved Uncanny Dodge instead.
Steady Stride (Ex): At 7th level, a Tracker can move through any sort of undergrowth, light rubble or other inconveniences at normal speed without taking damage or suffering any impairment. This does not work against enchanted or magically manipulated growth, however. This ability does not let the Tracker move more quickly through terrain that requires Climb or Swim checks to navigate. This ability functions regardless of what type or armour the Tracker is wearing, or what type of load they are carrying.
Evasion (Ex): At 8th level a Tracker can avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great agility. If he makes a successful Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, he instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used only if the Tracker is wearing light armor or no armor. A helpless Tracker does not gain the benefit of Evasion.
Master Tracker (Ex): At 10th level, a Tracker becomes sufficently practised that he can take 10 on tracking or urban tracking rolls to follow a trail he has already discovered (i.e. after his first check succeeded).
Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex): A Tracker of 11th level or higher can no longer be flanked. This defense denies another character the ability to sneak attack the character by flanking him, unless the attacker has at least four more levels of an Uncanny Dodge granting-class than the target does.
If a character already has Uncanny Dodge from a second class, the character automatically gains Improved Uncanny Dodge instead, and the levels from the classes that grant Uncanny Dodge stack to determine the minimum class level required to flank the character.
Greater Endurance (Ex): At 12th level, a Tracker can take 10 on any checks he gains a bonus from from his Endurance feat. The Tracker gets a +4 on saves against effects that cause fatigue or exhaustion.
Camouflage (Ex): At 13th level, a Tracker can use the Hide skill in any sort of terrain, even if there is no cover or concealment.
Hide in Plain Sight (Ex): At 17th level, a Tracker can hide in terrain even when being observed.
Endless Pursuit (Su): At 20th level, a Tracker becomes immune to nonlethal damage, fatigue and exhaustion (except that resulting from starvation or thirst). A Tracker requires only half normal rations and can survive by foraging (for himself only or otehrs with this ability) in any environment that is not completely barren and devoid of any kind of water (including water vapour).
The Tracker needs only sleep 2 hours per day to gain the benefit of 8 hours of sleep. This ability affects other sleep-equivilent forms (e.g. Elven trance) which also require onlt 25% normal time for a complete rest.
Once per day, plus once per point of Constitution bonus, the Tracker can spend an Immediate action to do one of the following:
1) Negate a sucessful Critical Hit as Heavy Fortification (and/or any effect that functions on creatures not immune to critical hits, e.g Sneak Attack) from a single attack.
2) Roll a new saving throw against any effect with a duration of longer than instantaneous that inflicts a negative status (e.g, Blinded, Entangled, Paralysed) that the Tracker is currently suffering from, with a bonus on the roll equal to the Tracker's Constitution bonus.
3) Add a +8 to Escape Artist or Grapple Checks made to exit a Grapple until the end of the Tracker's turn.
Starting Gold: 6D4 x10
Starting Age: As Ranger.
1The quote actually come from an unrelated article way back in Dragon 198, but it was such an awesome one it stuck with me until this very day!
2Leather Trenchcoat, hard-boiled monologues and having an office with your name painted backwards on the glass door optional.
3'Cos damned if I could find a picture on a Morder Orc scout!
4Pun intended.
(Note, if the picture causes problems, let me know and I'll remove it. As it is, this post is mostly a straight cut-and-paste from the WotC boards (plus all the fiddling I had to to bring the table back, since coping from Notepad doesn't seem to hold the breaks like it does there!))
Edit: fixed Tireless/Endless Pursuit name, added a title for the balance bit!
Edit: Added the new stuff to Endless Pursuit.