Homebrew Setting: Magipunk (brainstorming -- input needed)

[sirpercival]

That's perfect!  Thanks

[sirpercival]

The Shadow is done.  About to start the Planar Pioneer.

[Shiki]

I figure I'm kind of annoying with all my questions and I'm sorry for that, but could you please give me a nudge in the PP (Planar Pioneer) thread so that I can know what I can work with? I edited my last post yesterday..

[sirpercival]

Lol, you're fine -- I like answering questions.    I'll head over there now.

[Shiki]

I guess it's just an impression then, though I DO get it from times to times anywhere, hm.. Sorry to bother you with my insecurities, lol.

edit: edit ported elsewhere

[Nanshork]

How does the alternate form ability of the Warforged Substitution levels work?  Alternate form replaces the ability scores of the morphling with that of the creature and constructs don't have a constitution score.

[sirpercival]

Hmm... I see the problem.  I think you get the Construct's lack of Con score -- but again your normal hit points are your normal hit points.

[Nanshork]

Since Warforged and Lifetorn aren't Citizens, what are they?  What rights do they have/not have?

[sirpercival]

Well, for one thing, disputes tend to be ruled in favor of Citizens over non-Citizens.  Non-Citizens also don't get Cred Accounts, though they can function with solid currency just fine.  Non-Citizens get shit pay compared to Citizens.

Now, Non-Citizens who work for "Legitimate" businesses or agencies get a semi-protected status, like a work visa type thing, and get higher pay than other Non-Citizens.  And some NCs are coveted by illegitimate businesses because they're off the grid and harder to trace.

And, if you're an NC and you have enough money, you can purchase citizenship in Evernight from any of a dozen people who offer the service.  It costs roughly 500gp per HD, and if you're discovered to have a Citizenship like that elsewhere, if you're unlucky you can be deported back to Evernight.

[Garryl]

I'm thinking about a psionic Dodger PrC. More Warmind/Psionic Fist style than a dual progression class. Call it the "Fleeting Thought". 4th-5th level powers, Mind-slip (somewhere between Invisibility and Mass Cloud Mind), maybe Int to AC or something. You could probably do it such that Dodger isn't absolutely required for it, but just by far the easiest entry.

On a related note, would it be possible to review the Mentalist and Crystal Mage, maybe add some more support and/or fluff? I always forget about those two, despite them being full casters (or equivalent). They just don't have any interesting class features to me, and I've always had a problem with the Mentalist's Similarization (something about it, maybe the major penalty to saves, just bugs me).

[sirpercival]

I'm thinking about a psionic Dodger PrC. More Warmind/Psionic Fist style than a dual progression class. Call it the "Fleeting Thought". 4th-5th level powers, Mind-slip (somewhere between Invisibility and Mass Cloud Mind), maybe Int to AC or something. You could probably do it such that Dodger isn't absolutely required for it, but just by far the easiest entry.

I take it this is in addition to Psy-cat?  Go ahead and post what you've got, and I'll edit to match

On a related note, would it be possible to review the Mentalist and Crystal Mage, maybe add some more support and/or fluff? I always forget about those two, despite them being full casters (or equivalent). They just don't have any interesting class features to me, and I've always had a problem with the Mentalist's Similarization (something about it, maybe the major penalty to saves, just bugs me).

Review in what way?

I have a Mentalist/DivHead prc planned (Neuromancer), but not much more.  Feel free to suggest stuff if you have anything.

Actually, how about this: I think there should be a Crystal Mage/PoC prc.  Thoughts?

[Garryl]

I'm thinking about a psionic Dodger PrC. More Warmind/Psionic Fist style than a dual progression class. Call it the "Fleeting Thought". 4th-5th level powers, Mind-slip (somewhere between Invisibility and Mass Cloud Mind), maybe Int to AC or something. You could probably do it such that Dodger isn't absolutely required for it, but just by far the easiest entry.

I take it this is in addition to Psy-cat?  Go ahead and post what you've got, and I'll edit to match

I'd completely forgotten about the Psycat. Is that a Dodger PrC? Other than the requirement of Personal Gravity, it doesn't really feel that way to me. Given the existence of the Rapscallion feat (or whichever it is), Sneak Attack isn't really tied to one class or another, and that's the only real tie in the class features from Psycat to Dodger (and Sneak Attack never felt like the defining class feature of the Dodger to me anyways).

What I wrote there is about all I've got. It was just a fleeting thought that I decided to jot.

On a related note, would it be possible to review the Mentalist and Crystal Mage, maybe add some more support and/or fluff? I always forget about those two, despite them being full casters (or equivalent). They just don't have any interesting class features to me, and I've always had a problem with the Mentalist's Similarization (something about it, maybe the major penalty to saves, just bugs me).

Review in what way?

I have a Mentalist/DivHead prc planned (Neuromancer), but not much more.  Feel free to suggest stuff if you have anything.

Actually, how about this: I think there should be a Crystal Mage/PoC prc.  Thoughts?

I dunno. More feats, ACFs, class features, etc. I keep on forgetting that Crystal Mage actually has class features (the original version that was just a gutted Wizard is stuck in my head), so I'd better reread it before making any more judgements.

Given how negative I've been feeling about homebrew today (I've said "ooh, neat" far less than normal) I suspect my judgement may not be at its best, so take things with a grain of salt.

[sirpercival]

Then I shall think on both things.  The dodger stuff I'm gonna wait on until I address the edits you suggested.

[sirpercival]

So I agree that psycat doesn't feel very dodger-y... more like a roguish PrC for psykins.  We need something like a manifesting elocator (except that Dodger is already elocator).

OK, here's my thought:  Psionic Swiftblade, but with separate progression; give it mantles, like a swiftblade/ardent.  How does that sound?  Base it around Time-slip rather than Haste, so it feels more like a Dodger.

Neuromancer as I said I have ideas for, and we'll work out some kind of PoC/Crystal mage prc, that has too much awesome built in not to take advantage of.

In terms of feats, both Mentalist and CrysMage have a couple feats already.  Neither has items, which I should remedy; they also could use more feats, so I'll think about that.  What do you dislike about Similarization?  It's kind of integral to the class, so I want to fix any issues.  I could definitely work up a Mentalist ACF or two, so that might help.

Zen Fundamentalist is due a major rewrite, making it a swordsagey ToB class, as I said elsewhere.

Do you think Nullblade and/or the Ritual System have their place here?

Oh yeah!  And: Powerbard.  I want some feedback on my ideas.

~Don't want to just clone bard, like I didn't want to clone artificer.  Gotta put my stamp on it!
~Maybe take out spellcasting?  Base it entirely around music, kinda like glomming together bard, warchanter, seeker of the song, etc.?
~Either way, class feature names will be based on rock band names.  Because, yes.  Wyld Stallions!
~Have to include a feat or two that promotes cooperation between PB's (so you can form a band).
~I must have ToB on the brain, because I'm maybe thinking a sonic-based discipline?  Or, I could make the mechanics more like souped-up Shadowcasting, with mysteries being PB music and sonic effects?  That's basically the only mechanic I think I don't have anywhere.

Anything else/better anyone can think of?
 

[Sneaky_Sable]

Nullblade: Nope. Nope. Nope.

Powerbard: Percival, how's this sound. Rename "Rituals" to "Songs" and have the Powerbard be your Ritualist. Maybe give them some inspirational feel-good stuff too (Unless there are feel-good rituals), or they could just jam out some Perform(Acts of Awesomeness) rolls in their off time.

That'd make Bass Golems and Tweeter Swarms more like Ritual Repeaters, and higher level Powerbards could make them repeat area-affect Sonic attacks, to which they'd be immune to.

Also, just to let you know I'm still working on those two. I figure that the primary differences will be mobility (Bass Golem slow, Tweeter Swarm fast), damage (Bass Golem range attack deals bludgeoning damage, while Tweeter Swarm range attack deals slashing damage, all with a sonic special effect), and special abilities (Tweeter swarms can use Shatter, due to high frequency soundwaves, while Bass Golems can deal tons of damage to structures, cause Bass.)

Visually, Bass Golems look like mobile speaker equipment with some crystals growing here and there, with the bulk of their central body dominated by a massive subwoofer. Tweeter Swarms will look like anodized titanium humming birds with tiny little speakers taking up most of their central body.

Since elementals have cool names for bigger and better versions of themselves, Bass Golems and Tweeter Swarms may have the same, with the lowest, smallest, and weakest Bass Golems known as the Bose Golems, while the largest, strongest, and most badass known as the Rockfords or the Polks.

And yes, I used to SELL audio equipment.

[Garryl]

All Similarization does (until the higher level versions) is add large numbers to your save DCs (it effectively adds another 0.4*(level + Int mod) to the save DCs). Being usable only once is irrelevant when it only takes one failed save to nullify an opponent (and with that penalty, especially at higher levels, it's pretty much guaranteed unless your opponent's saves were already off the chart).

Have class that combos Powerbard and Holomancer for a one-man music video.

I'm not sure what belongs in Magipunk, actually. It's supposed to be Cyberpunk but with magic instead of technology, right? But there's a bit more to it that I've forgotten. That, and I don't really know the range of Cyberpunk, to begin with. Most of my understanding of it as a real setting is from the game you're running right now, which seems to me to be on the grim and gritty side (guns and trench coats and murder mysteries, oh my).

[Sneaky_Sable]

All Similarization does (until the higher level versions) is add large numbers to your save DCs (it effectively adds another 0.4*(level + Int mod) to the save DCs). Being usable only once is irrelevant when it only takes one failed save to nullify an opponent (and with that penalty, especially at higher levels, it's pretty much guaranteed unless your opponent's saves were already off the chart).

Have class that combos Powerbard and Holomancer for a one-man music video.

I'm not sure what belongs in Magipunk, actually. It's supposed to be Cyberpunk but with magic instead of technology, right? But there's a bit more to it that I've forgotten. That, and I don't really know the range of Cyberpunk, to begin with. Most of my understanding of it as a real setting is from the game you're running right now, which seems to me to be on the grim and gritty side (guns and trench coats and murder mysteries, oh my).

Don't forget the underlying punk rebellious attitude. US vs. THEM! Fight the corporations! Take back the world!

[Wrex]

OK, here's my thought:  Psionic Swiftblade, but with separate progression; give it mantles, like a swiftblade/ardent.  How does that sound?  Base it around Time-slip rather than Haste, so it feels more like a Dodger.

Master of going first, eh? I like it.

Neuromancer as I said I have ideas for, and we'll work out some kind of PoC/Crystal mage prc, that has too much awesome built in not to take advantage of.

In terms of feats, both Mentalist and CrysMage have a couple feats already.  Neither has items, which I should remedy; they also could use more feats, so I'll think about that.  What do you dislike about Similarization?  It's kind of integral to the class, so I want to fix any issues.  I could definitely work up a Mentalist ACF or two, so that might help.

Similarization is a bit boring, but it is a Screw-saves-just-lose type of thing. Perhaps, let it allow you to use telepathy on a creature immune to mind affecting, OR penalize saves?

Zen Fundamentalist is due a major rewrite, making it a swordsagey ToB class, as I said elsewhere.

Sounds good

Do you think Nullblade and/or the Ritual System have their place here?

Nullblade could work, but it would take creative fluffing.

As far as Rituals go: Make the powerbard the ritualist! Think about it: They do not actually play music any more, they just record it ahead of time, and release it when neccesary. You take damage from the stress of recording this music, inside some sort of Cerebral Implant, Div head style, rather than write bloody glyphs on the ground. The Instrument is merely a focus/weapon.

Or the ritualist could be someone who is skilled at hacking the oracle. While the DivHead interfaces with the sensors, The ritualist2 would manipulate the metaverse to cause an effect, using himself as the focus. They would be called "Scripts" or some such, and only so many could be retained inside his implant at a given time. when executed, there is your ritual. Life loss still occurs due to mental stress. In this situation, the powerbard would likely be a sort of skill caster, like the planeswalker. Make the Perform check, or suffer the consequences, your ability firing regardless.

[sirpercival]

I like the "scripts" idea, and I think that maybe we can bring Rituals in.  I'm hesitant to have Powerbard do that though... it doesn't really fit what I wanted with the class.  I'm actually liking the shadow mysteries idea, so I'm going to play around with that.

EDIT: BTW, if anyone else wants to help design the Inner and Transitive Planar Nodes, feel free...   I've got Earth half-done.

[sirpercival]

I present, for your perusal: the Splitter.