A base class for my Magipunk setting. WIP.
MORPHLINGPicture Credit: Google Image Search "There is a beast in all of us... I have simply learned to unleash mine."-Skurth, morphling gladiator of unknown origin
A morphling is a creature whose DNA has become mutable (through magic, genetic engineering, or fate). This strange ability allows a morphling to alter portions of its anatomy, even to the point of completely transforming into another type of creature. Effecting such changes in their structure is difficult, however, and can quickly lead to fatigue.
MAKING A MORPHLING A morphling is primarily a melee combatant, though at times one can serve other roles (such as scouting, or infiltrating enemy encampments) by using their Transformation ability.
Abilities: As a melee combatant, Strength and Dexterity are both important. In addition, Constitution determines the duration of the Morph ability, the Morphling's hit points, and the Morphling's defense.
Races: Morphlings can come from any race.
Alignment: Any.
Starting Gold: As barbarian.
Starting Age: As barbarian.
Class SkillsThe Morphling's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Animal Affinity (Cha), Athletics (Str), Natural Lore (Wis), Perception (Wis), Persuasion (Cha), and Profession (Wis).
Skill Points at 1st Level: (2 + int)x4
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 2 + int
Table: The Morphling | HD: d10 |
Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| Base Attack Bonus | +1 | +2 | +3 | +4 | +5 | +6 | /+1 | +7 | /+2 | +8 | /+3 | +9 | /+4 | +10 | /+5 | +11 | /+6 | /+1 | +12 | /+7 | /+2 | +13 | /+8 | /+3 | +14 | /+9 | /+4 | +15 | /+10 | /+5 | +16 | /+11 | /+6 | /+1 | +17 | /+12 | /+7 | /+2 | +18 | /+13 | /+8 | /+3 | +19 | /+14 | /+9 | /+4 | +20 | /+15 | /+10 | /+5 |
| Fort Save | +2 | +3 | +3 | +4 | +4 | +5 | +5 | +6 | +6 | +7 | +7 | +8 | +8 | +9 | +9 | +10 | +10 | +11 | +11 | +12 |
| Ref Save | +2 | +3 | +3 | +4 | +4 | +5 | +5 | +6 | +6 | +7 | +7 | +8 | +8 | +9 | +9 | +10 | +10 | +11 | +11 | +12 |
| Will Save | +0 | +0 | +1 | +1 | +1 | +2 | +2 | +2 | +3 | +3 | +3 | +4 | +4 | +4 | +5 | +5 | +5 | +6 | +6 | +6 |
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Morph | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 |
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Special | Morph, Skill Focus (Perception), morphic body (skin) | Morphic senses | Blend in, morphic body (healing) | Morphic body (fortification 50%) | Transformation I | Morphic weapons | Morphic reserves | Morphic body (brawn) | Transformation II | Morphic body (fortification 75%) | Improved morphic weapons | Morphic body (reach) | Transformation III | Improved morphic reserves | Greater morphic weapons | Morphic body (fortification 100%) | Transformation IV | Morphic flurry | Supreme morphic weapons | Morphic apotheosis, transformation V |
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Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: Morphlings are proficient with simple weapons and light armor, but not with shields. They are proficient with their natural weapons.
Morph (Ex): A morphling's mutable DNA allows him to alter his anatomy in fantastic ways. To represent this strange ability, a morphling gains morph points that he can spend to activate this ability (and the Transformation ability). At the beginning of each encounter, he gains a number of morph points determined by his level (see the table above). He can spend morph points to gain a number of abilities, determined by his level, as described below; the benefits and abilities last for a number of rounds equal to 3 + his Constitution modifier. Once the duration of a morph ends, the morphling becomes exhausted for the duration of the encounter.
Skill Focus (Perception): A morphling gains Skill Focus (Perception) as a bonus feat.
Morphic body (Ex): A morphling also learns how to alter their body in less obvious ways. Whenever a morphling is actively morphing or transformed, he gains the following abilities based on his class level:
- At 1st level, he gains a natural armor bonus equal to his Constitution modifier, or his existing natural armor bonus increases by the same amount.
- At 3rd level, he gains fast healing 1. This increases by 1 for every 3 additional morphling levels (i.e., 2 at 6th, 3 at 9th, etc.).
- At 4th level, he becomes immune to stunning; in addition, he has a 50% chance to negate critical hits and precision damage.
- At 8th level, he gains a +4 bonus to Strength.
- At 10th level, he has a 75% chance to negate critical hits and precision damage.
- At 12th level, his natural reach increases by 5 feet.
- At 16th level, he is immune to critical hits and precision damage.
Morphic Senses: At 2nd level, a morphling gains low-light vision, as well as darkvision at a range of 60 feet.
Blend in (Ex): Beginning at 3rd level, a morphling learns how to subtly alter their structure and coloration, giving them a +10 circumstance bonus to Persuasion checks to impersonate someone, a +5 circumstance bonus on all other Persuasion checks, and a +5 circumstance bonus to Stealth checks.
Transformation I (Ex): At 5th level, a morphling learns to completely transform himself into another creature. Doing so is a special use of the Morph ability that costs 5 morph points. This ability functions like the alternate form special ability, except as noted here; activating this ability is a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity. He can take the shape of any animal, humanoid, or monstrous humanoid of Medium or Small size that he is familiar with; the new form's hit dice cannot exceed his morphling level. He retains the ability to speak in any form. The duration of this ability is determined by the morphling's original Constitution modifier, not the Constitution modifier of the new form.
Morphic weapons (Ex): Beginning at 6th level, whenever a morphling gains a natural attack from his morph ability, he may spend an additional morph point to increase the size of the damage die by one step.
Morphic reserves (Ex): When he reaches 7th level, a morphling learns how to conserve his energy more efficiently. Whenever he uses his morph ability, he may voluntarily reduce the duration by 3 rounds. If he does so, then when the duration expires he becomes fatigued instead of exhausted.
Transformation II: At 9th level, a morphling can spend 7 morph points to use his transformation ability to assume the form of creatures of the giant or fey types. He can also take on forms that are Large or Tiny size; taking the form of a Large or Tiny humanoid, animal, or monstrous humanoid costs 7 morph points (instead of 5).
Improved morphic weapons: Beginning at 11th level, whenever a morphling uses his morphic weapons ability, the damage die instead increases by two steps.
Transformation III: At 13th level, a morphling can spend 9 morph points to use his transformation ability to assume the form of creatures of the vermin or aberration types. He can also take on forms that are Huge size; taking the form of a Huge humanoid, animal, monstrous humanoid, giant, or fey costs 9 morph points (instead of 5 or 7).
Improved morphic reserves (Ex): When he reaches 14th level, a morphling has built up a resistance to the physical weariness of morphing. When a morph ends, he is fatigued instead of exhausted. In addition, whenever he uses his morphic reserves ability on a morph, when that morph ends he takes no penalty.
Greater morphic weapons: Beginning at 15th level, whenever a morphling uses his morphic weapons ability, the damage die instead increases by three steps.
Transformation IV: At 17th level, a morphling can spend 11 morph points to use his transformation ability to assume the form of creatures of the plant or ooze types. He can also take on forms that are Diminutive size; taking the form of a Diminutive humanoid, animal, monstrous humanoid, giant, fey, vermin, or aberration costs 11 morph points (instead of 5, 7, or 9).
Morphic flurry (Ex): Beginning at 18th level, whenever a morphling gains a natural attack mode from his morph or transformation abilities, he gains one additional attack of that type. For example, a 19th-level morphling who spends 1 morph point to gain 2 claw attacks would instead gain 3 claw attacks.
Supreme morphic weapons: When he reaches 19th level, whenever a morphling uses his morphic weapons ability, the damage die instead increases by four steps.
Morphic apotheosis (Ex): Beginning at 20th level, a morphling has built up a significant tolerance to morphing and transformation. The first 5 morph points he spends in an encounter cause him no penalty when the morph or transformation ends. If and when he spends more points, he suffers fatigue as normal (his improved morphic reserves ability still applies).
Transformation V: At 20th level, a morphling can spend 13 morph points to use his transformation ability to assume the form of creatures of the elemental or dragon types. He can also take on forms that are Gargantuan size; taking the form of a Gargantuan humanoid, animal, monstrous humanoid, giant, fey, vermin, aberration, plant, or ooze costs 13 morph points (instead of 5, 7, 9, or 11).
PLAYING A MORPHLINGMorphlings are ferocious combatants, exploding into a whirlwind of claws, teeth, and tentacles whenever threatened.
Combat: Morphlings use their natural weapons to great effect. Many spend MP on the Pounce ability once it becomes available, charging up to enemies and tearing them apart with claws, teeth, and tentacles.
Advancement: Feats and items that improve natural attacks can augment a morphling's combat prowess. In particular, Multiattack and Improved Multiattack are good for those who want several natural attack modes.
MORPHLINGS IN THE WORLD"Whenever someone walks by who isn't wearing a shirt, I keep my hand on my sword."-Dareth Mullud, Sylvatium District Police
A brief description of how your class is persevered in the world and how he interacts with the world.
Daily Life: Some general information about the typical day in the life of your class.
Notables: Make up some cool information about notable figures in the history of your class. It's best to give a little information from one of the good alignment and evil alignment (unless it's a good or evil only class).
Organizations: The Evernight Gladatorial Arena trains morphlings to fight each other and Wilds-caught monsters, for the entertainment of tourists.
NPC Reaction This is an in detail description of how NPC's would perceive your class and the immediate generalization that people would give of your class.
MORPHLINGS IN THE GAME This is a good place to provide a quick note on how your class will effect game play statistically.
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Encounters: This is a place to describe what sort of encounters PC's will have with NPC versions of your class.
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SkuthCN Male Dragonborn Human Morphling 8
Init +0,
Senses: Listen +, Spot +,
Languages ------------------------------------------------
AC , touch , flat-footed ()
hp ( HD)
Fort +,
Ref +,
Will +
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Speed 30 ft. (6 squares)
Melee Base Atk +,
Grp +
Atk Options Combat GearSpells Prepared Supernatural Abilities -----------------------------------------------
Abilities Str 14, Dex 11, Con 19, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8
SQ Feats Skills Possessions