Synthevolver [base] (Magipunk)

[sirpercival]

many thanks to Jackinthegreen for writing the opening flavor text!

SYNTHEVOLVER

   
"Don't be silly -- if we were meant to evolve naturally, why would God have given us subdermal implants?"

-Stellan Mechus, mechanosynth

There are those beings that are not satisfied with the bodies they have been given, and seek to improve them; thus is born a Synthevolver, who attempts to achieve the next stage of evolution artificially.

Adventures: Synthevolvers most often adventure to prove themselves and test their newfound abilities.  While they might have heroic streaks, most mainly want to push themselves and achieve what they didn’t think they could do in their normal bodies.

Characteristics: Much like actual evolution, synthevolvers have many possible options but will tend to specialize to occupy a niche role.  One synth might become a veritable tank, impervious to attack while simultaneously destroying all in its path.  Another might master the art of stealth and blend into the shadows, only to strike at the most opportune time.  Still others focus on incapacitating their foes through the Mutagenic Strike ability and its associated evolutions.

Alignment: Synthevolvers may be of any alignment.  Good synths tend to adventure to fight evil, and even have the option to ascend to a higher state of being in that pursuit. Lawful synths are protectors of their lands and people.  Chaotic synths might simply wander, looking for the next chance to prove themselves.  Evil synths use their powers to oppress and victimize others for their own gains, and can take on fiendish characteristics (if they are that malicious).

Religion: Synthevolvers revere and despise higher powers in equal measure.  Some believe that their enhancements are gifts, while others might be spiteful of greater beings that didn’t provide them with an adequate body in the first place.

Background: The want or need to drastically change oneself to achieve a goal often results in a synthevolver, but such a drive can arise from widely disparate paths.  Some synths come from disadvantaged backgrounds, obtaining black-market evolves from shady xenoalchemists and joining gangs of synth bullies preying on the devolved.  Others might have rich parents paying for enhancements, toys for the wealthy who have little else of meaning but their own bodies.

Races: Any, but usually human.  Humans have the greatest tendency to dislike their own body image.  Dwarves might become synthevolvers out of practicality.  Some other races, especially elves, rarely take up the mantle of synthevolvers because they dislike artificially improving their bodies, and would rather improve upon them naturally.  Beyond those who are merely uncomfortable with replacing body parts in favor of new structures, some creatures might attack a synth on sight due to believing a body part was actually harvested from another creature.  Such encounters are rare because the practice has been banned for decades in favor of creating the parts on their own, but there are always a few who do actually use pieces from a once-functioning creature, particularly when purchasing black-market evolves.

Other Classes: Most classes respect the power and versatility a synthevolver can bring.  Exceptions to this are classes who focus on improving the self through discipline or training and classes that revere nature and see most synths as abominations, depending on how one got the evolutions.  Despite these hardships, synths are accepting of diversity and can sometimes even change their own bodies to suit the needs of a stalwart group.

Role: The versatility inherent in synthevolvers allows them the potential to fill multiple roles, though not many at once usually.  Combat specialists, scouts, negotiators, and stealth operatives are all roles that a synth can fulfill.

Adaptation: Synthevolvers can be adapted to fantasy settings like D&D by turning the Mechanosynth evolves into something more fitting for the setting and renaming them, such as magically-enhanced limbs made from treated wood or metal similar to Warforged parts.

The biosynth path usually needs very little adaptation to work in various settings.  The character can be thought of as actually forcing its own “evolution” through various means including purely willing its own body to change.  Alternately, a biosynth might be an exceptional individual or even a mutant who discovers and grows into his body’s abilities.

MAKING A SYNTHEVOLVER
A synthevolver can specialize to fill nearly any party role.  Evolution can take wildly divergent paths, and each synth realizes their dream differently.
Abilities: The most important ability scores depend on the synth's chosen role, but Constitution is useful for everyone (and sets the save DC of the Mutagenic Strike).
Races: Any, but usually human.  Humans have the greatest tendency to dislike their own body image.
Alignment: Any.
Starting Gold: As cleric.
Starting Age: As cleric.

Class Skills
The Synthevolver's class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Acrobatics (Dex), Animal Affinity (Cha), Athletics (Str), Engineering (Int), Gather Information (Cha), Heal (Wis), Negotiation (Cha), Perception (Wis), Persuasion (Cha), Profession (Wis), Stealth (Dex), and Thievery (Dex).
Skill Points at 1st Level: (4 + Int) x4
Skill Points at Each Additional Level: 4 + Int

Table: The Synthevolver				HD: d8
Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20	Base Attack Bonus +0 +1 +2 +3 +3 +4 +5 +6 /+1 +6 /+1 +7 /+2 +8 /+3 +9 /+4 +9 /+3 +10 /+5 +11 /+6 /+1 +12 /+7 /+2 +12 /+7 /+2 +13 /+8 /+3 +14 /+9 /+4 +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	Special Artificial selection, evolution 0, mutagenic strike (fatigue) Next stage, resilience (1/hour) Mutagenic strike (sicken) Evolution 0 (+1 size) Resilience (1/30 minutes) Mutagenic strike (weaken) Evolution 0 (+2 size, +1 attack) Next stage, resilience (1/10 minutes) Mutagenic strike (exhaust) Evolution 0 (+3 size), improved mutagen Resilience (1/minute) Mutagenic strike (nauseate) Evolution 0 (+4 size, +2 attacks) Next stage, resilience (1/5 rounds) Mutagenic strike (paralyze) Evolution 0 (+5 size) Resilience (1/round) Mutagenic strike (debilitate) Evolution 0 (+6 size, +3 attacks) Final ascension, unstable mutagen	Evolution Evolves Acquired Evolution Stage -- -- 1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 1 6 1 7 2 8 2 9 2 10 2 11 2 12 2 13 3 14 3 15 3 16 3 17 3 18 3 18 3

Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: A synthevolver is proficient with simple weapons, light and medium armor, and shields (but not tower shields).

Artificial selection: Upon entering the class, a synthevolver chooses which of two paths to follow to achieve the next stage of evolution.  He may choose to be a biosynth, who replaces portions of his own anatomy with pieces of creatures or other organic materials, or he may become a mechanosynth, implanting machinery and other metallic constructions into his flesh.  Once made, this choice cannot be altered.  A synthevolver also gains the Augmented subtype, as well as a +2 bonus to Fortitude saves.

Evolution 0 (Ex): The first change a synthevolver carries out is to give himself a means of defending himself, by way of a natural attack mode.  A biosynth chooses between 2 claw attacks that deal 1d4 damage, or a bite attack that deals 1d8 damage; a mechanosynth chooses between a slam attack that deals 1d6 damage, or an armblade. 

An armblade is a light or one-handed melee weapon of the mechanosynth's choice, attached at the end of the arm.  The mechanosynth is proficient with the weapon unless it is an exotic weapon (in which case he must have the Exotic Weapon Proficiency feat).  While the armblade is attached, a mechanosynth cannot be disarmed of the armblade, but he also cannot use that hand for other tasks without removing the armblade, which takes a standard action (attaching it is a move action and counts as drawing a weapon). In addition, the mechanosynth gain a +2 bonus on opposed attack rolls made to disarm an opponent. 

Every three levels after first, the base damage of the evolution 0 attack increases by one size category.  In addition, at 7th, 13th, and 19th level, the synthevolver gains an additional attack with his evolution 0 attack mode.

Mutagenic strike (Ex): A synthevolver can temporarily alter an opponent's DNA with a successful attack.  Whenever a synthevolver successfully strikes an opponent with his evolution 0 attack, he may force the opponent to make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 synthevolver level + Con modifier) or become fatigued for 1 round per synthevolver level.  Multiple uses of this ability to apply the same condition to the same creature do not stack (this is an exception to the usual rule that anything that would normally cause fatigue to a fatigued creature causes the target to become exhausted).

At higher levels, the synthevolver may attempt to apply different conditions instead.  At 3rd level, he may attempt to sicken a target; at 6th level, he may attempt to weaken a target (applying a -4 penalty to any one physical ability score); at 9th level, he may attempt to exhaust a target; at 12th level, he may attempt to nauseate a target; at 15th level, he may attempt to paralyze a target; and at 18th level, he may attempt to debilitate a target (applying a -8 penalty to all physical ability scores).  The synthevolver may apply different conditions to the same target with different uses of this ability.

Evolution: At 2nd level, a synthevolver begins to replace portions of their anatomy with superior versions, either organic (biosynth) or metallic (mechanosynth).  The synthevolver may add a new evolve from the indicated and appropriate list at every level except 1st and 20th; he may choose an evolve from a lower-level list if he desires.

Resilience (Ex): Beginning at 2nd level, a synthevolver begins to heal ability damage more quickly than normal.  He heals 1 point of ability damage every hour.  At 5th level, this increases to 1 point of ability damage every 30 minutes; at 8th, it becomes 1 point every 10 minutes; at 11th, 1 point every minute; at 14th, 1 point every 5 rounds; and at 17th, a synthevolver heals 1 point of ability damage every round.

Next stage: At 2nd level level, a synthevolver begins to differentiate himself from his original species.  A biosynth gains darkvision out to 60 feet if he does not have it already, and a mechanosynth gains immunity to sleep effects.  At 8th level, the distinction becomes much more pronounced; a biosynth's type changes to aberration, while a mechanosynth's type changes to construct, with the living construct subtype (gaining the appropriate immunities).  At 14th level, the separation is complete -- both biosynths and mechanosynths have alien, inscrutable mentalities, and become immune to mind-affecting effects.

Improved mutagen (Ex): The mutagenic strike of a synthevolver of 10th level or higher becomes harder for an opponent to shake off.  Whenever the synthevolver successfully applies a mutagenic condition to an opponent, that condition cannot be removed in any way (including through magic such as the restoration spell) until the duration wears off.  In addition, the synthevolver's mutagenic conditions can affect creatures that are normally immune to those conditions (such as a warforged who is normally immune to fatigue), but such creatures receive a +4 bonus on their Fortitude save to resist.

Final ascension: At 20th level, a synthevolver has achieved his goal of assisted personal evolution.  He gains a final evolve from the appropriate list.

Unstable mutagen (Ex): Whenever a 20th-level synthevolver successfully uses his mutagenic strike on an opponent, that opponent gains one negative level (or two negative levels on a critical hit) as their essence is destabilized.

[sirpercival]

Biosynth Evolves

Stage I

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Arm Membranes
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: You gain a +10 racial bonus on Athletics checks for jumping.  You can also use your membranes to glide, negating damage from a fall from any height and allowing 20 feet of forward travel for every 5 feet of descent. You glide at a speed of 30 feet with average maneuverability. Even if your maneuverability improves, you can’t hover while gliding. You can’t glide while carrying a medium or heavy load.   If you become unconscious or helpless while in midair, your membranes naturally unfurl, and powerful ligaments stiffen them.  You descend slowly in a tight corkscrew and takes only 1d6 points of falling damage, no matter the actual distance of the fall.

Chameleon
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: You gain a +4 bonus to Stealth and Persuasion checks.

Elven Eyes
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: You gain low-light vision.

Extra Reserves
Prerequisites: Base Fortitude save +3.
Benefit: You are immune to fatigue.

Fast Twitch Muscle
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: Your Dexterity increases by 2 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Fins
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: You gain a +8 bonus on Athletics checks to swim.

Junk DNA
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: Choose a race.  You count as a member of that race for the purpose of qualifying for feats, prestige classes, racial substitution levels, magic items, and the like.
Special: You may choose this evolve multiple times; each time, choose a different race.

Pheromones
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: You can generate a pheromone spray a number of times per day equal to your Charisma modifier.  The spray acts as an inhaled poison; anyone who inhales it must make a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 synthevolver level + Cha modifier) or be affected as by charm person.  You are immune to your own pheromone spray, and the caster level for the effect is equal to your synthevolver level.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; each time, you gain 2 additional uses of the pheromone spray.

Pixie Skin
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: Your Charisma increases by 2 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Reinforced Tendons
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: Your Constitution increases by 2 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Slow Twitch Muscle
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: Your Strength increases by 2 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Spell-dodge
Prerequisites: Base Reflex save +4.
Benefit: You gain the evasion ability, which functions no matter what armor you wear.

Spell-shrug
Prerequisites: Base Fortitude save +4.
Benefit: You gain the mettle ability.

Spider Hair
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: You gain a +4 bonus on Athletics checks for climbing; in addition, you gain tremorsense with a range of 20 feet.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Swiftness
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: Your base land speed increases by 10 feet.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Toughened Flesh
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: You gain a +1 natural armor bonus, or your existing natural armor bonus increases by +1.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Stage II

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Badger Claws
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: You gain a burrow speed of 30 feet.

Blindsight
Prerequisites: Elven Eyes or racial low-light vision.
Benefit: You gain blindsight with a range of 30 feet.

Bright Soul
Prerequisites: Any non-evil alignment.
Benefit: You gain a +4 bonus on saves against negative energy effects, death effects, and energy drain.
Special: You cannot choose both this evolve and Dark Soul.

Dark Soul
Prerequisites: Any non-good alignment.
Benefit: You are healed by negative energy and harmed by positive energy as if you were an undead creature.  In addition, you gain a +4 bonus on saves against positive energy effects (such as cure light wounds).
Special: You cannot choose both this evolve and Bright Soul.

Dispersion
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: Your body parts can separate into a swarm of tiny-sized creatures. You gain the swarm subtype, but lose any flight speed that you might have had.

Enhanced Pheromones
Prerequisites: Pheromones.
Benefit: Your pheromone spray improves; anyone who fails their save is affected as if by charm monster instead of charm person.

Gills
Prerequisites: Fins.
Benefit: You gain a swim speed of 30 feet, and can breathe underwater.

Improved Fast Twitch Muscle
Prerequisites: Fast Twitch Muscle.
Benefit: Your Dexterity increases by 4 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Improved Pixie Skin
Prerequisites: Pixie Skin.
Benefit: Your Charisma increases by 4 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Improved Reinforced Tendons
Prerequisites: Reinforced Tendons.
Benefit: Your Constitution increases by 4 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Improved Slow Twitch Muscle
Prerequisites: Slow Twitch Muscle.
Benefit: Your Strength increases by 4 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Long Arms
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: Your natural reach increases by 5 feet.  You can still attack enemies adjacent to you.

Primordial Soup
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: You can revert yourself to a more primitive form. You type changes to ooze. You Evolution 0 natural attack becomes a slam instead of a bite or claw, and you gain the engulf ability.  If you have a poison or the pheromones evolve, any creature affected by your engulf ability is subject to the poison or pheromones.

Spell-miss
Prerequisites: Spell-dodge, base Reflex save +8.
Benefit: You gain the improved evasion ability, which functions no matter what armor you wear.

Spell-slip
Prerequisites: Base Will save +4.
Benefit: You gain the slippery mind ability.

Spider Legs
Prerequisites: Spider Hair.
Benefit: You gain a climb speed of 30 feet, and the range of your tremorsense increases to 50 feet.

Tentacles
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: Two tentacles sprout from between your shoulder blades.  You gain two tentacle natural attacks which do 1d8 base damage.  The tentacles have 5 feet longer reach than your evolution 0 attacks, but cannot be used to attack creatures adjacent to you.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; each time after the first, you gain an additional tentacle and associated attack.

Tougher Flesh
Prerequisites: Toughened Flesh.
Benefit: Your existing natural armor bonus increases by +3.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Troll Blubber
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: You gain fast healing 3.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; each time your fast healing increases by 3.

Wings
Prerequisites: Arm Membranes.
Benefit: You gain a fly speed of 30 feet (perfect maneuverability).

Stage III

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Advanced Dispersion
Prerequisites: Dispersion.
Benefit: You can split yourself into even smaller parts. You gain the swarm subtype, but your individual parts are now Diminutive-sized, and so are immune to weapon damage. You lose access to your evolution 0 natural attack while in this form, but gain a swarm attack which does 1d6 base damage (increased as your evolution 0 attack is) and nauseates any creatures that fail a Fort save. If you have a poison, it is also delivered via the Swarm attack.

Boost
Prerequisites: Badger Claws, Gills, Spider Legs, or Wings.
Benefit: You gain a 10 foot increase in speed for all of your movement modes.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Extraordinary Pheromones
Prerequisites: Enhanced Pheromones.
Benefit: Your pheromone spray improves again.  Anyone who fails their save is affected as if by dominate person; if they are non-humanoids, they are affected by charm monster instead.

Font of Light
Prerequisites: Bright Soul.
Benefit: You are immune to negative energy effects and damage, death effects, and energy drain.  You gain a +4 bonus against other necromancy effects.
Special: You can't choose both this evolve and Shadowed Being.

Greater Fast Twitch Muscle
Prerequisites: Improved Fast Twitch Muscle.
Benefit: Your Dexterity increases by 6 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Greater Pixie Skin
Prerequisites: Improved Pixie Skin.
Benefit: Your Charisma increases by 6 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Greater Reinforced Tendons
Prerequisites: Improved Reinforced Tendons.
Benefit: Your Constitution increases by 6 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Greater Slow Twitch Muscle
Prerequisites: Improved Slow Twitch Muscle.
Benefit: Your Strength increases by 6 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Improved Primordial Soup
Prerequisites: Primordial Soup.
Benefit: While in your ooze form, any creature hit by your slam attack or your engulf ability must make a Fort save (DC 10 + 1/2 your synthevolver level + your Con modifier) or be paralyzed for 1d4 rounds.

Metasynth
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: You gain the effect of one stage I evolve of your choice, which cannot be used to meet prerequisites.  You can spend 10 minutes concentrating to change the chosen evolve.

Shadowed Being
Prerequisites: Dark Soul.
Benefit: You are immune to positive energy effects and damage.  You gain fast healing 2 whenever in an area of shadowy illumination or dimmer.
Special: You can't choose both this evolve and Font of Light.

Toughest Flesh
Prerequisites: Tougher Flesh.
Benefit: Your existing natural armor bonus increases by +5.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Troll Skin
Prerequisites: Troll Blubber.
Benefit: Your fast healing becomes regeneration.  You take normal damage from fire and acid.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; each time your regeneration increases by 3.

Final Evolve

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Ankyloderm
Prerequisites: Toughest Flesh.
Benefit: Your existing natural armor bonus increases by +20.

Ascension
Prerequisites: Font of Light, good alignment.
Benefit: You gain the Half-Celestial template.

Damnation
Prerequisites: Shadowed Being, evil alignment.
Benefit: You gain the Half-Fiendish template.

Enthralling Pheromones
Prerequisites: Extraordinary Pheromones.
Benefit: Your pheromone spray improves again; anyone who fails their save is affected as if by dominate monster.

Perfection
Prerequisites: Greater Fast Twitch Muscle, Greater Pixie Skin, Greater Reinforced Tendons, or Greater Slow Twitch Muscle.
Benefit: All of your ability scores increase by 10 points.

Super Soup
Prerequisites: Improved Primordial Soup.
Benefit: While in your ooze form, you gain the split ability of a black pudding.

Syntharrasque
Prerequisites: Troll Skin.
Benefit: No form of attack deals lethal damage to you. You regenerate even if you fail a saving throw against a disintegrate spell or a death effect. If you fail your save against a spell or effect that would kill you instantly (such as those mentioned above), the spell or effect instead deals nonlethal damage equal to your full normal hit points +10.  You can be slain only by raising your nonlethal damage total to your full normal hit points +10 and using a wish or miracle spell to keep you dead, or by reducing your Constitution score to 0.  If you lose a limb or body part, the lost portion regrows in 1d6 minutes (the detached piece dies and decays normally). You can reattach the severed member instantly by holding it to the stump.

[sirpercival]

Mechanosynth Evolves

Stage I

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Aluminum Flesh
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: You have a 25% chance of negating critical hits and precision damage.

Armbolt
Prerequisites: Evolution 0.
Benefit: You can replace your evolution 0 attack with a ranged attack.  While the armbolt mechanism is attached, you cannot be disarmed of the armbolt, but you also cannot use that hand for other tasks without removing the armbolt mechanism.  Attaching the armbolt is a move action that counts as drawing a weapon; detaching it is a standard action.  The armbolt counts as a ranged natural weapon with a range increment of 60 feet, which does base 1d8 energy damage (crit 19-20/x2), increased as normal by the evolution 0 class feature.  You choose the energy type when you choose this evolve.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; each time, choose an additional energy type to apply to the armbolt.  The armbolt's damage is divided evenly among all its energy types.

Blades
Prerequisites: Slam attack.
Benefit: Your slam attack deals slashing damage in addition to any other damage types it previously dealt.  The blades separate flesh and muscle, causing your opponent incredible pain; any living creature damaged by your slam attack suffers a -2 penalty to skill checks and attack rolls until it heals at least 1 point of damage by any means.  Alternatively, the pain can be halted with a successful Heal check (DC 20).

Case-Hardened Steel
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: You gain energy resistance 5 against all of the following energy types: acid, cold, electricity, fire, sonic.  This energy resistance stacks with energy resistance from other sources.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; each time, increase your existing energy resistance by 5.

Fiber-optic Shroud
Prerequisites: Stealth 6 ranks.
Benefit: You can use invisibility as a spell-like ability at will, targeting yourself only.

Memory Module
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: Your Intelligence increases by 2 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Phase Disjunction
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: You can grant yourself the incorporeal subtype for 1 round as a swift action.  Once you use this ability, you cannot use it again for 1d4 rounds.

Planar Shunt
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: As a standard action, you can become Ethereal (as per Ethereal Jaunt) for a number of rounds per day equal to your evolver level. You may split these rounds up however you want. Returning to the Material Plane requires a move action.

Pneumatic Calves
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: You gain a fly speed of 5 feet (average), which also grants you a +10 racial bonus to Athletics checks for jumping.

Quick-time
Prerequisites: Dex 13.
Benefit: You gain a +3 bonus to initiative checks.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Ramset
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: You gain a +8 bonus to resist being tripped, bull rushed, or grappled.  In addition, whenever you are successfully bull rushed, you do not move more than 5 feet; and, when grappled, you cannot be pinned.

Reflective Coating
Prerequisites: Stealth 6 ranks.
Benefit: You can use mirror image as a spell-like ability at will.

Repeller
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: You gain a +1 deflection bonus to AC.

Spikes
Prerequisites: Slam attack.
Benefit: Your slam attack deals piercing damage in addition to any other damage types it previously dealt.  Also, the wounds caused by the spikes bleed profusely, causing 1 additional point of damage per successful attack against a living opponent each successive round until the opponent heals at least 1 point of damage by any means; alternatively, the bleeding can be halted with a successful Heal check (DC 20).

Stabilizer
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: You automatically stabilize when reduced to negative hit points.  In addition, you can function normally even below 0 hit points, though you still die when reduced below -10 as normal.

Subcutaneous Shielding
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: You gain a +3 bonus to saves against spells and spell-like abilities.

Subdermal Sheeting
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: You gain damage reduction 2/--.
Special: This damage reduction stacks with all other existing forms of damage reduction.

Synthetic Fiber
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: Your Strength increases by 2 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Synthetic Mesh
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: Your Constitution increases by 2 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Synthetic Nerves
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: Your Dexterity increases by 2 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Stage II

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Armgrenade
Prerequisites: Armbolt.
Benefit: You can activate your armbolt as a standard action; if you do so, it strikes all creatures in a 30-foot burst, centered on any square up to 60 feet away.  Affected creatures may make a Reflex save for half damage (DC 10 + 1/2 your mechanosynth level + your Constitution modifier).

Armlaser
Prerequisites: Armbolt.
Benefit: You can activate your armbolt as a standard action; if you do so, it strikes all creatures in a 120-foot line, who may make a Reflex save for half damage (DC 10 + 1/2 your mechanosynth level + your Constitution modifier).

Cranial Scanner
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: You can detect and pinpoint beings that are not mindless (anything with an Intelligence score of 1 or higher) within 60 feet. This works much like blindsense — you know what square each thinking being is in, but you do not see the being, and the being still has total concealment unless you can see it by some other means. You also perceive several observable characteristics about each being you detect this way, including the being's type and Intelligence score. You need not take any additional or special actions to gain this information; it is as obvious to your scanner as the being's race and clothing would be to eyesight.

Enhanced Repeller
Prerequisites: Repeller.
Benefit: Your deflection bonus to AC increases by +2.

Extended Phase Disjunction
Prerequisites: Phase Disjunction.
Benefit: You can grant yourself the incorporeal subtype for 5 rounds as a swift action.  Once you return to corporeality, you cannot use this ability again for 1d4 rounds.

Extended Planar Shunt
Prerequisites: Planar Shunt.
Benefit: The duration of your Planar Shunt increases to 1 minute per level, divided up however you want, with a minimum duration of 1 round.

Fast-time
Prerequisites: Dex 15, Quick-time.
Benefit: You can grant yourself the benefit of the haste spell as a swift action for 1 round.  You can spend a total number of rounds per day hasted equal to your evolver level.

Fire-Hardened Steel
Prerequisites: Case-Hardened Steel.
Benefit: All of your existing energy resistances increase by 10.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Holographic Shroud
Prerequisites: Stealth 12 ranks.
Benefit: You can use greater invisibility as a spell-like ability at will, targeting yourself only.

Implanted Shielding
Prerequisites: Subcutaneous Shielding.
Benefit: Your bonus to saves against spells and spell-like abilities increases to +6.

Impulse Soles
Prerequisites: Pneumatic Calves.
Benefit: Your fly speed increases to 50 feet (average).

Improved Memory Module
Prerequisites: Memory Module.
Benefit: Your Intelligence increases by 4 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Improved Synthetic Fiber
Prerequisites: Synthetic Fiber.
Benefit: Your Strength increases by 4 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Improved Synthetic Mesh
Prerequisites: Synthetic Mesh.
Benefit: Your Constitution increases by 4 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Improved Synthetic Nerves
Prerequisites: Synthetic Nerves.
Benefit: Your Dexterity increases by 4 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Metalline Veneer
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: Your evolution attacks bypass damage reduction as if it were made of adamantine, byeshk, cold iron, or silver.

Reinforced Ramset
Prerequisites: Ramset.
Benefit: You are immune to being tripped, bull rushed, or grappled.

Spellcrystal Tracing
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: Whenever you attack a creature with your evolution 0 attacks, you may choose to affect that creature with a targeted dispel magic effect, with a caster level equal to your evolver level.  If you successfully dispel a spell effect this way, you gain a +2 insight bonus to saves against spells for 1 hour as the spellcrystal reinforces your magical protections.  You may use this ability a number of times per day equal to your Constitution modifier.

Steel Flesh
Prerequisites: Aluminum Flesh.
Benefit: You have a 50% chance of negating critical hits and precision damage.  In addition, you automatically bypass 3 points of hardness whenever you attack an object with your evolution 0 attacks.

Subdermal Kevlar
Prerequisites: Subdermal Sheeting.
Benefit: Your subdermal damage reduction increases to 5/--.
Special: This damage reduction stacks with all other existing forms of damage reduction.

Vital Scanner
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: In addition to any normal light that might be present, your surroundings are illuminated by roving points of brightness created by living creatures. To your eyes, a Medium or smaller creature gives off life force sufficient to provide bright illumination in a 60-foot radius, revealing itself and all features and objects in range to your life-adapted sight. This life-light behaves like regular light — you can't see into solid objects, or past solid walls. A Large creature gives off life-light in a 120-foot radius, and the radius doubles again for each additional size category larger than Medium, up to a maximum radius of 960 feet for a Colossal creature.

Stage III

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Alloy Veneer
Prerequisites: Metalline Veneer.
Benefit: Your evolution attacks bypass all alignment- and substance-based damage reduction, and count as epic weapons for the purpose of bypassing damage reduction.

Armbeam
Prerequisites: Armlaser.
Benefit: Any creature that fails its Reflex save against your armlaser is blinded permanently; a Fortitude save at the save DC reduces the blindness to 1d6 minutes.  In addition, any creature that takes damage from your armlaser (including creatures who successfully save) is stunned for 1 round.

Armbomb
Prerequisites: Armgrenade.
Benefit: Any creature that takes damage from your armgrenade is deafened for 1d4 rounds.  In addition, any creature that fails its Reflex save is ejected from the area, sending it to a location outside the nearest edge of the burst.  Any creature moved in this manner also takes an additional 1d6 points of damage per 10 feet moved (no additional damage if moved less than 10 feet by the effect) and is knocked prone. If some obstacle prevents a blasted creature from being moved to the edge of the effect, the creature is stopped and takes 1d6 points of damage from striking the barrier (in addition to any damage taken from the distance moved before then). In any event, this movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity.

Colossus
Prerequisites: Reinforced Ramset.
Benefit: You are immune to being moved against your will in any way.  This includes magical means such as teleportation, or more mundane means such as being picked up by a flying creature.

Cyclopean Implants
Prerequisites: None.
Benefit: You gain the coherent light ability of a holomancer of half your evolver level.  This ability stacks with coherent light from any other source, but does not function when you are blinded.

Fortified Repeller
Prerequisites: Enhanced Repeller.
Benefit: Your deflection bonus to AC increases by +3.

Greater Memory Module
Prerequisites: Improved Memory Module.
Benefit: Your Intelligence increases by 6 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Greater Synthetic Fiber
Prerequisites: Improved Synthetic Fiber.
Benefit: Your Strength increases by 6 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Greater Synthetic Mesh
Prerequisites: Improved Synthetic Mesh.
Benefit: Your Constitution increases by 6 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Greater Synthetic Nerves
Prerequisites: Improved Synthetic Nerves.
Benefit: Your Dexterity increases by 6 points.
Special: You can choose this evolve multiple times; its effects stack.

Greater Fast-time
Prerequisites: Dex 17, Fast-time.
Benefit: In any round when you activate your fast-time ability, instead of making one extra attack at your highest base attack bonus, you have the choice of making one extra move action or one extra standard action.

Instant Phase Disjunction
Prerequisites: Extended Phase Disjunction.
Benefit: You can grant yourself the incorporeal subtype at will as an immediate action.  Returning to corporeality requires a standard action.

Radiation-Hardened Steel
Prerequisites: Fire-Hardened Steel.
Benefit: You become immune to any one energy type for which you have resistance.

Rapid Planar Shunt
Prerequisites: Extended Planar Shunt.
Benefit: You can activate your Planar Shunt ability as an immediate action. Returning to the Material Plane now can be done as a free action.

Rocket Soles
Prerequisites: Impulse Soles.
Benefit: Your fly speed increases to 90 feet (average).

Spellcrystal Core
Prerequisites: Spellcrystal Tracing.
Benefit: Whenever you attack a creature with your evolution 0 attacks, you may choose to force the creature to make a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 synthevolver level + Constitution modifier) or be affected as if by an antimagic ray.  You may use this ability a number of times per day equal to your Constitution modifier.

Spellcrystal Shielding
Prerequisites: Implanted Shielding.
Benefit: You gain spell resistance 11 + your evolver level.

Subdermal Plating
Prerequisites: Subdermal Kevlar.
Benefit: Your subdermal damage reduction increases to 10/--.
Special: This damage reduction stacks with all other existing forms of damage reduction.

Titanium Flesh
Prerequisites: Steel Flesh.
Benefit: You have a 75% chance of negating critical hits and precision damage.  In addition, you automatically bypass 8 points of hardness whenever you attack an object with your evolution 0 attacks.

Final Evolve

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Adamantium Flesh
Prerequisites: Titanium Flesh.
Benefit: You are immune to critical hits and precision damage.  In addition, you automatically bypass all hardness whenever you attack an object with your evolution 0 attacks.

Booster Soles
Prerequisites: Rocket Soles.
Benefit: Your fly speed increases to 300 feet (average).

Gammasteel
Prerequisites: Radiation-Hardened Steel.
Benefit: You are immune to energy damage and force damage.

Heavy Artillery
Prerequisites: Armbeam or armbomb.
Benefit: You can make an attack with your armbolt as a standard action against any one creature you can see (or otherwise pinpoint).  That creature must make a Fortitude save or die; if they succeed, they must make a Will save or be unconscious for 1 minute; if they succeed of both previous saves, they must make a Reflex save or be stunned for 1d6 minutes.  The DC for all three saves is equal to 10 + 1/2 your evolver level + your Con modifier.  Using your armbolt this way overheats it, and you may not make another armbolt attack for 2d4 rounds.

Inexorable
Prerequisites: Alloy Veneer.
Benefit: Your evolution 0 attacks bypass all forms of damage reduction.  In addition, unless you specifically choose to deal nonlethal damage (taking the normal -4 penalty), your slam attack always deals lethal damage, even to creatures that normally only take nonlethal damage (such as those with regeneration).

Pause
Prerequisites: Dex 19, Improved Fast-time.
Benefit: You may function as under the benefit of the time stop spell for a total number of rounds per day equal to your Dexterity modifier, divided as you choose into 1-round increments.  Activating this ability is a swift action.

Spellcrystal Sheath
Prerequisites: Spellcrystal Shielding.
Benefit: You are immune to the effect of any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance unless you choose to allow it.

Subdermal Armor
Prerequisites: Subdermal Plating.
Benefit: Your subdermal damage reduction increases to 30/--.
Special: This damage reduction stacks with all other existing forms of damage reduction.

[sirpercival]

Synthevolver Feats

Coordinated Mutagen
You are skilled at attacking a foe's body with multiple mutagens
Prerequisites: Mutagenic strike (sicken).
Benefit: You can apply 2 mutagens with a single successful attack instead of 1.

Expand Mutagenic Aura
Your mutagenic aura extends to a larger radius.
Prerequisites: Mutagenic aura, Cha 17+.
Benefit: Your mutagenic aura affects all allies within 30 feet + 10 feet times your Charisma modifier.
Normal: Allies within 60 feet gain the benefit of your mutagenic aura.

Extra Evolve
You gain an additional evolve beyond those granted by your class levels.
Prerequisites: Evolution II (mechanosynth or biosynth)
Benefit: You gain an additional evolve of your choice of up to one stage less than your maximum.  Your options are limited to mechanosynth or biosynth as normal.  For example, a level 15 biosynth could choose a stage I or stage II biosynth evolve, since his maximum stage is III.  If you have a Final Evolve, you may choose stage III evolves.
Special: You may select this feat multiple times, choosing the same evolve (if it can be taken more than once) or a different one.  You may only select this feat a maximum number of times equal to your Constitution modifier.

Resonant Evolution
Your focus on a particular path of evolution strengthens the effects.
Prerequisites: Two of the same evolution that grants a numerical benefit.
Benefit: Choose an evolve that grants a numerical benefit and that you've taken at least twice.  The benefit of those evolves increases by one.  For example, a mechanosynth who chose the Quick-Time evolve three times would gain a +12 bonus to initiative, instead of +9, while a biosynth who chose the Improved Fast Twitch Muscle evolve twice would increase their Dexterity by +10 instead of +8.
Special: You may select this feat multiple times; each time, choose a different evolve that meets the criteria above.


Synthevolver ACF: Mutagenic Aura

Some synthevolvers prefer not to get their fists dirty wading into battle, and turn their mutagenic abilities in a different direction than offense.  These synthevolvers instead develop a mutagenic aura which bolsters their allies.
Level: 1st.
Special Requirement: Cha 13+.
Replaces: The synthevolver no longer receives the benefit of the mutagenic strike, improved mutagen, and unstable mutagen class features.
Benefit: The synthevolver learns to project a mutagenic aura that strengthens and removes irregularities in her allies' DNA, granting benefits to all allies within 60 feet (including the synthevolver).  The synthevolver learns 1 aura from the list below at 1st level; she gains access to different effects over the course of her career, learning an additional aura every 3 synthevolver levels (at 3rd, 6th, 9th, etc). 

Each aura allows the synthevolver and her allies to apply her Charisma bonus to certain rolls.  The bonuses granted are circumstance bonuses, which do not stack with each other.

Projecting a mutagenic aura is a swift action, and the synthevolver can have an aura active continuously, even if she is unconscious or otherwise unable to act (but not if she is dead).  The synthevolver can project a single aura at a time at 1st level, and gains the ability to project two auras simultaneously at 10th level, and three auras simultaneously at 20th.

Accurate Strike: Bonus on rolls made to confirm critical hits.
Art of War: Bonus on disarm, trip, bull rush, and sunder attempts.
Blitz: Bonus to damage rolls against flat-footed opponents.
Combat Tactics: Bonus to damage rolls on attacks of opportunity.
Demand Fortitude: Bonus on Fortitude saves.
Determined Caster: Bonus on rolls to overcome spell resistance.
Determined Manifester: Bonus on rolls to overcome power resistance.
Distant Aim: Bonus to ranged attack rolls. This cannot raise a character's ranged attack modifier above his or her normal ranged attack modifier within the first range increment.
Force of Will: Bonus on Will saves.
Lethal Strike: Bonus to damage rolls on confirmed critical hits.
Long Haul: Bonus to Strength for the purpose of carrying capacity. Bonus to checks and rolls modified by the Endurance feat.
Master of Opportunity: Bonus to Armor Class against attacks of opportunity.
Master of Tactics: Bonus on damage rolls when flanking.
Motivate Charisma: Bonus on Charisma checks and Charisma-based skill checks.
Motivate Constitution: Bonus on Constitution checks and Constitution-based skill checks.
Motivate Dexterity: Bonus on Dexterity checks and Dexterity-based skill checks (including initiative checks).
Motivate Intelligence: Bonus on Intelligence checks and Intelligence-based skill checks.
Motivate Strength: Bonus on Strength checks, Strength-based skill checks, and grapple checks.
Motivate Wisdom: Bonus on Wisdom checks and Wisdom-based skill checks.
Over the Top: Bonus on damage rolls when charging.
Reliable Strike: Double bonus to percentile miss chance rolls.
Sublime Focus: Bonus on skill checks made as part of maneuvers.
Tough It Out: Double bonus to current and maximum hit points. These hit points are not lost first like temporary hit points, and disappear when the aura is lost.
Warning Shout: Bonus to Armor Class while denied Dexterity to AC. This cannot raise a character's Armor Class above his or her normal Armor Class. Still considered denied Dex to AC.
Watchful Eye: Bonus on Reflex saves.

At 20th level, as a swift action the synthevolver can forgo the effect of one or more of her normal active mutagenic auras to apply a single evolve she has to all allies within the range of her mutagenic aura.  The allies must meet the prerequisite of that evolve to gain the benefit.  The synthevolver forgoes the effect of a number of auras equal to the stage of the granted evolve (she may choose which aura effects to forgo).  Resuming the normal aura effects requires an additional swift action.

[sirpercival]

Mechanics are done, now I'm just writing evolves.  I posted a few to get you started, but I need some ideas!  Hit me

[Sneaky_Sable]

Biosynth Evolves may want to have some environmental adaptations, like gaining a Swim Score and Breath Underwater, or gaining Climbing Claws for a climb score. For those who do not want to make a pure combat Synthevolver, you could give the biosynths options like "Replacable faces: You may cast Alter Self on yourself 3+cha mod times per day" and then further up the chain something like "Patron of a Thousand Faces: You may cast Alter Self at will".

Mechanosynth Evolves, on the contrast, should have things like "Environmental Immunity" where you gain Fire or Cold resist 10, then 20, then eventually immunity. Perhaps something like a chain of synths where you replace your natural weapons (IE, your fists) with various metals. Maybe start with steel to improve your unarmed damage, then make a branch off where someone can either choose Mithril to gain an additional attack per round unarmed, or Adamantine to deal more damage and ignore hardness. If your campaign setting has some Macguffinite or something, perhaps a high rank Evolve there to replace their limbs with that stuff.

There's also the prospect of potential overlap as long as each side has an advantage over the other. Perhaps both Bio and Mechano synths gain a flight speed, but the Biosynth has better maneuverability while the Mechanosynth is faster, or whichever. The Biosynth gains natural armor, while the mechanosynth gains damage reduction.

It's nice to be able to build a death machine that can punch minions into orbit and can kick a puppy without shedding 10W-30 tears, but it's also nice to have options for folks that would rather play "characters" over "deadly assortments of numbers"

Another option: Bonus feats. Maybe at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 let the player choose from a corresponding list of feats that they may take as bonus feats. Rather then bog them down with "Kill shit better" feats, things like Endurance or Run for the Biosynth, and Great Fortitude for the Mechanosynth. Or allow the Mechanosynths to take various fighter feats as bonus feats to represent enhancements for combat aptitude.

I'm almost seeing this class as a pair of classes, really, between "Characters" and "Killers" in the Biosynth / Mechaosynth aspect.

[Sneaky_Sable]

Okay, so did some thinking, writing, and planning, and came up with this.

Comparisons between Bio and Mechano Synthevolvers.

Bio- get:
- Increased Movement
- Flight (Focus on Maneuverability)
- Access to New Movement
- Environmental Adaptation
- Natural Armor

Mechano- get:
- Increased Damage
- Flight (Focus on Speed)
- Unarmed Damage Variety (Attacks count as Silver. Mithril for Extra attacks. Adamantite for Ignoring Hardness...)
- Energy Adaptation (Resist Fire 10, for instance)
- Natural Damage Reduction


Thought up some potential new chains too. First, for the Biosynth:

Spellshards: By implanting resonance stones in key locations on their body, a Biosynth can set up a harmonance field to deflect incoming spells:

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I. Implanted Spellshards: +2 to all saves vs. Spells or Spell-Like effects
II. Implanted Harmony Shards: +4 to all saves vs. Spells or Spell-Like effects. This replaces the bonus from Implanted Spellshards. Prerequisite: Implanted Spellshards
III. Implanted Staticshards: Spell Resist 10 + Synthevolver Level (Max 30). Prerequisite: Implanted Harmony Shards

If a spell pierces the Synthevolver's SR, they still get the +4 to their save from the Harmony Shards.

And then one, like it, for the Mechanosynth:

Harmonance Shards: These crystalline growths allow the Mechanosynth to set up a resonance around their person that deflects a certain degree of incoming hostile magic. At higher levels, it allows for the complete blockage of magics, for a time.

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I. Impediment Slivers: All incoming magics that target any point within 10' of you deal 1 less damage per damage die.
II. Impediment Shards: All incoming magics that target any point within 15' of you deal 2 less damage per damage die. This replaces the bonus granted from Impediment Slivers. Prerequisite: Impediment Slivers
III. Impediment Stone: Anti-Magic Shell, centered on self, once per day. Prerequisite: Impediment Shards

Similar paths, but entirely different effects.

Biosynth:

Enhanced Movement: By altering the joints and musculature of their legs, a Biosynth can move faster then unaltered, mundane humanoids.

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I. Tweaked Musculature: Increase base speed by 10. This stacks with all other forms of base movement enhancement.
II. Enhanced Musculature: Increase base speed by 10.  This stacks with all other forms of base movement enhancement. Prerequisite: Tweaked Musculature
III. Perfected Musculature: Increase your running multiplier by 1, You gain +4 to any check to resist fatigue or exhaustion from long distance movement (Stacks with Endurance Feat).  Prerequisite: Enhanced Musculature

Mechanosynth:

Ramset: By locking the joints of the legs, and increasing the mass of each leg substancially, the Mechanosynth can avoid being moved or tripped simply by standing still.

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I. Ramset: +4 to resist Bull Rushes or Trips
II. Enhanced Ramset: +8 to Resist Bull Rushes or Trips.  This replaces the bonus from Ramset. Prerequisite: Ramset
III. Master Ramset: If a Bull Rush would move you, it moves you 5 feet less.  Prerequisite: Enhanced Ramset
Final. Colossus: You are immune to any effect that would move you against your will. You are considered one size category larger whenever you initiate a Bull Rush, Trip, or Grapple of your own.Prerequisite: Master Ramset

[sirpercival]

Loving these.  I'll add them and more when I get a chance.

[Sneaky_Sable]

Got a few more for consideration.

Biosynth:

Environmental Adaptation: Subtle alterations in biology allow a Biosynth to expand her horizons, turning normally inaccessible terrain into greener pastures.

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I. Aquatic Adaptation: You gain the Aquatic subtype, and a Swim speed of 30. You can breath water as easily as you could breath air. If you cast a spell with a verbal component, you must make a Concentration check (DC 10) when casting underwater.
II. Gaseous Adaptation: You gain a +4 to any saving throw against any cloud or gas based attack. Prerequisite: Aquatic Adaptation
III. Environmental Adaptation: You are constantly adapting to your surroundings, and are protected as though you were wearing a necklace of adaptation. Prerequisite: Gaseous Adaptation

Mechanosynth:

Heightened Damage: Your knuckles are filled with powdered lead, your knees and elbows have galvanized caps, and laid across your forehead is a plate of anodized titanium. You're a damage machine.

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I. Registered Weapons: You gain the benefits of the Improved Unarmed Combat feat.
II. Heightened Damage: You deal unarmed damage as though you were one size category larger. Prerequisite: Registered Weapons
III. Hit Like A Train: You deal double your Strength Mod in damage with your unarmed strikes. Prerequisite: Heightened Damage
Final: Trains Hit Like Me: Your critical multiplier for unarmed attacks is x3, and your crit range is 19-20. When you score a critical hit, you may choose to also subject your target to a bull rush, without provoking an attack of opportunity. Regardless of the result, you always move your opponent at least five feet. Prerequisite: Hit Like A Train.

I am Ironman: By substituting various metals for your fists, knees, and striking points, you can deal substantial  damage to otherwise invulnerable targets.

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I. Fists of Steel: Whenever you make an unarmed attack against a target with a touch attack, you are not subject to that touch attack.
II. Fists of Silver: Your unarmed attacks are considered silver for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction. Prerequisite: Fists of Steel
III. Pulverizing Fist: Your unarmed attacks are considered adamantite for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction and ignoring hardness. Prerequisite: Fists of Silver
Final. Hand of the Juggernaut: Your unarmed attacks can overcome any damage reduction. Prerequisite: Pulverizing Fist

[sirpercival]

I very much like your ideas -- but I'm going to shift them around and change them up.   

[Sneaky_Sable]

I very much like your ideas -- but I'm going to shift them around and change them up.   

I am but the muse.

[sirpercival]

Any suggestions for Final Evolves for Biosynth?  Need more than two... maybe spell reflection?

EDIT: stage III's, as well...

[Sneaky_Sable]

For building a 'proper' spell dodge tree, how's this for a third tier:

Arcane Shield: Whenever you are targeted by a ray spell, you gain a deflection bonus to your armor class equal to your Synthevolver Level. Prerequisites: Spell Miss

Then... building off the "Spell Dodge" and "Spell Slip" and "Spell Miss" enhancements, could have this for a final:

Final: Spell Turn - Your ability to turn the other arcane cheek, along with strategicly implanted silver mirror shards, allows you to reflect more then just the lighting.

Benefit: You are constantly under the effects of a Spell Turning effect, which you can lower at will.
Prerequisites: Spell Miss, Spell Slip


Another suggestion is a tree that involves altering your base appearance. It could start with Disguise Self at will, then work up to Alter Self, then Polymorph, then the final could be Shapechange at will..

Also, just thought of one for a sneaky approach: Poisons.

• I. Persuasive Toxin: You can generate a contact poison 3 + Con Mod times per day. Save DC is 10 + 1/2 Synthevolver Level + Con Mod. Effect: Charm Person. You also gain +2 on all Poison Saves
• II. Compelling Toxin: You can generate a contact poison 3 + Con Mod times per day. Save DC is 10 + 1/2 Synthevolver Level + Con Mod. Effect: Suggestion.
• III. Enrapturing Toxin: You can generate a contact poison 3 + Con Mod times per day. Save DC is 10 + 1/2 Synthevolver Level + Con Mod. Effect: Dominate Person. You also gain +4 on all Poison Saves
• Final. Toxicopia: Up to 3 + Con Mod times per day, you can generate any poison that you have been subjected to. You are immune to all poisons.

[sirpercival]

Love the poisons idea!  That's perfect.  I'm rethinking the spell miss tree stuff... I may have alternate ideas.  I don't want to give them the alter self/polymorph/shapechange line, because it's too much overlap with Morphling.

I realized I forgot a resource... I'll check out grafts and warforged components in the relevant books and port some of them over. 

EDIT: And what do you think of the stuff I've added?

[Sneaky_Sable]

True, especially with the Morphling able to imitate people.

 

I love everything about this class. I definitely think a feat for "Extra Adaptation" is in order, to allow the Synthevolver to take an additional evolution of an appropriate or lower level.

For some reason, I'm also thinking of an evolution that both could share. A third tier evolution that allows them to choose any first level evolution they wish, and change it as a standard action. They couldn't use it to meet the prerequisites of anything, but it'd allow them to have access to the lower level synths whenever they wanted.

That actually just inspired a Final level Biosynth power:

Conscious Evolution: You may rechoose 3 + Con mod synths per day, each taking a full minute to alter. If you alter a synth with a prerequisite, you must maintain that prerequisite.

Allowing Biosynths to consciously retrain their chosen evolutions once per day. Though, this may still ring too close to the morphling, who can essentially re-write their character sheet whenever they want.

[littha]

I really like the Mechanosynth stuff but it is a little lacking. I could really see it with some sort of ranged attack (Like Eldrich Blast) as one of its evolves (or possibly instead of the slam attack as the biosynth gets a choice two natural weapons). Depends on how Iron man you want to get. Possibly also the ability to swap out your natural weapon for Martial Weapons Proficiency (so you can actually make Cyborg Ninja in the picture)


It could probably also do with some way of increasing its manuverability (there are feats out there in the draconomicron i think.... either way there could be an evolve.) I like the idea of biosynth and mechanosynth having their own strong areas but as flight is the only bonus move speed that mechanosynth gets it should be pretty potent. Another movement mode could be something like short range teleportation. Like the ardents Dimention Hop would be a solid ability.

Other ideas:
Invisibility (because Ghost in the Shell).
Incorporiability or Etherialness (use something like the dragons breath weapon recharge on the lowest ability for one round/level with 1d4 round recharge activate as a standard action, level 2 ability being 1 round per class level or 5 rounds and activate as a move action and the level 3 ability as at will as a swift action. Final Evolve could be as an immediate action.
Mirror Image and displacement possibly.
Force Fields of some sort. (temp HP? Deflection bonus to AC?)

There is also a huge disparity between the strength of the evolves at each level. +4 to resist bull rush is nothing compared to a fly speed

[Nanshork]

Adamantine Flesh is missing its prerequisite.

[Sneaky_Sable]

I really like the Mechanosynth stuff but it is a little lacking....

That's 99% my fault. I'm more intrigued and impressed with the Biosynth then the Mechanosynth, and thus 99% of my suggestions are slanted that way. Sorry!

[sirpercival]

Adamantine Flesh is missing its prerequisite.

Thanks, fixed.

Littha:

I like the idea of swapping out the Slam for alternate weapons -- I'll do it via armblade/armgun evolves.  There is indeed a feat that improves maneuverability, in several books (RotW and CAdv to name two), so I think I'll go with that... unless there really needs to be an evolve.  Dimension hop could be fun, I'll think about how that would work.

I'll have to think about invisibility, etherealness, & mirror image/displacement, those seem more like biosynth evolves, though I'm not opposed to making them mechano evolves if we can figure out how to flavor it properly.  Force fields are an excellent idea, I'll add that in (deflection bonus definitely).

I think the bull rush one is the biggest offender (being just weaker than the rest).  Is there anything you can think of to add to that chain to beef it up?

[littha]

Possibly bump it up a step, make the level 2 into level 1 and come up with a new capstone that is somewhere near as good as blanket immunity to magic or energy damage. Probably too hard though. The first level of the spell reisist one is also pretty naff but that can be forgiven for the effect the chain gives in the end.

As far as Invisibility goes, Ghost in the Shell had Thermoptic Camouflage. That was computer controlled but considering the (-punk) aesthetic you are aiming for I would have thought the best cyberpunk series ever made would have some influence especially considering it is about cyborgs...

The big issue with making mirror image, etherealness and invisibility bio evolves is twofold. First there is a desperate lack of mechano evolves at the moment and second, what should mechano be better at?

Bio gets poison, extra movement modes (their flight is better too, manoeuvrability is much better than speed. who needs 300' move speed if the battlefield is 60' across?) Regeneration (with no negating factor... so invulnerability), more natural attacks and increased reach (both better than doing damage as other materials)

Mechano needs some abilities that match these, at the moment the only thing it has better is Damage reduction vs AC and even then that doesn't scale that well. Energy resistance is nice but should probably be for all energy types rather than pick one, just because nobody wants to waste all their class features on getting resistances that are generally not that hard to obtain in 3.5.

It should also probably have ability score boosting evolves like the bio has, machinery can make you stronger or more dexterous (probably make bio STR/DEX/CON/CHA and Mechano STR/DEX/CON/INT) These probably need a boost anyway, nobody is going to use up 2 levels worth of evolves for a +1 bonus. I would say +2 at I +4 at II and +6 at III wouldn't be bad, sure if you put all of your evolves into STR then you could have +72 STR but you are also incapable of doing anything approaching useful with it anyway.


I would also think about some sort of inherent ability for getting to the next stage of evolves, it feels as though at level 10 you fundamentally change instantly. Possibly give some minor aberration/construct trait when you get your first level I evolve bump next stage down to level 8 to match the level II evolve and some additional trait when you get level III that isn't already covered (some construct immunity that living constructs don't have for example... Immunity to Mind affecting). I think it would make the class flow better even if its not a great ability