Author Topic: The Nord's Blade  (Read 15558 times)

Offline Concerned Ninja Citizen

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Re: The Nord's Blade
« Reply #20 on: November 14, 2012, 03:55:38 PM »
So Cambian is an awesome race with extra awesomesauce and crunchy bits of awesome on top for Nord's Blade?

Cha bonus and a racial luck reroll for +0LA seems fine to me.

Also, how would NB interact with those of Oslecamo's Improved Monster Classes that grant full IL?

Could you, for example, take 4 levels of Reth Dekala , 2 of NB and be able to access 3rd lv manuvers?

Quote from: linklord231
Just think of it like 2nd level bards, who only get 1st level spells if they have a high enough Cha.

They need Cha of 12 to get a 1st lv bonus spell. That's not really equal to being forced to spend a feat to make your primary class feature work at all.

Quote from: linklord231
On a different note, Tome of Battle (especially homebrew disciplines) is generally frowned upon at my table for various reasons.  Do you have any suggestions for a replacement to the maneuvers mechanic?  I was thinking maybe spells from the Ranger or Paladin list.

They allow homebrew but not ToB? That's one weird table.

I don't think you can really take the manuvers out of the NB and have it stay the same class. You could maybe brew up a non martial adept class that uses the bell curve and luck theme, though.

Offline linklord231

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Re: The Nord's Blade
« Reply #21 on: November 14, 2012, 04:01:37 PM »
Quote from: linklord231
On a different note, Tome of Battle (especially homebrew disciplines) is generally frowned upon at my table for various reasons.  Do you have any suggestions for a replacement to the maneuvers mechanic?  I was thinking maybe spells from the Ranger or Paladin list.

They allow homebrew but not ToB? That's one weird table.

I don't think you can really take the manuvers out of the NB and have it stay the same class. You could maybe brew up a non martial adept class that uses the bell curve and luck theme, though.

It's allowed, just frowned upon.  As is material from any other book we don't physically possess.  I don't really understand why, especially because homebrew is occasionally allowed  :rolleyes

I'm not arguing, I'm explaining why I'm right.

Offline Concerned Ninja Citizen

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Re: The Nord's Blade
« Reply #22 on: November 14, 2012, 04:08:24 PM »
If it's a "don't physically possess" thing I can see that. You do "physically possess" homebrew, to the extent that anyone does. Doesn't anyone have a PDF of ToB, though?

EDIT: The text mentions that you have to meet the prereqs for a stance you enter but it doesn't say the same for maneuvers. I'm assuming this doesn't mean that you can use lv 9 maneuvers at lv1 but does it mean that you don't have to meet "X [discipline] maneuvers" prereqs?

EDIT the second: I found a few extras Amechra wrote on the original thread. Might want to add it to the "additional stuff" tab?

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« Last Edit: November 16, 2012, 01:39:08 AM by Concerned Ninja Citizen »

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: The Nord's Blade
« Reply #23 on: November 21, 2012, 04:31:23 PM »
Awesome. Missed that extra stuff. Will add it. I also upped the number of fate dice by 1 in the table at all levels, per Amechra's request.

If it's a "don't physically possess" thing I can see that. You do "physically possess" homebrew, to the extent that anyone does. Doesn't anyone have a PDF of ToB, though?

EDIT: The text mentions that you have to meet the prereqs for a stance you enter but it doesn't say the same for maneuvers. I'm assuming this doesn't mean that you can use lv 9 maneuvers at lv1 but does it mean that you don't have to meet "X [discipline] maneuvers" prereqs?

EDIT the second: I found a few extras Amechra wrote on the original thread. Might want to add it to the "additional stuff" tab?

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Offline Amechra

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Re: The Nord's Blade
« Reply #24 on: November 21, 2012, 06:10:25 PM »
Alright, I am back; thanks for updating the table, it was bugging me.

As for the Monster Classes, I would say you add them to your Nord's Blade levels before you take 3/4ths of your level, and that's your IL.
"There is happiness for those who accept their fate, there is glory for those that defy it."

"Now that everyone's so happy, this is probably a good time to tell you I ate your parents."

Offline Amechra

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Re: The Nord's Blade
« Reply #25 on: May 11, 2013, 07:40:03 PM »
Alright, I've done some revising.

phaedrusxy, can you replace Maneuvers Known and Right Place at the Right Time with the following?

Maneuvers Known: A Nord's Blade is a rather different fighter than your average Initiator; in fact, they are almost surreally differently.

Each morning, the Nord's Blade may select a number of Maneuvers Known from any Discipline equal to the Maneuvers Recognized column on the table above.

They have a number of Readied Maneuvers equal to 1plus half the number of Maneuvers Recognized they have; unlike normally, they may ready a single maneuver multiple times. They may recover a single expended use of any maneuver by removing a number of Fate Dice results equal to 1 + one-third the level of that maneuver, rounded up.

Instead of learning a number of stances, the Nord's Blade automatically enters a stance of their choice; they may only enter a stance if they have met all of the prerequisites for that stance.

For the purposes of what maneuvers they have access to, select any three disciplines. For those disciplines alone, the Nord's Blade's IL is equal to their class level plus half their levels in non-initiator classes. Finally, the Nord's Blade uses their Charisma in place of the normal key ability score for those three discipline.

Right Place at the Right Time (Ex): A Nord's Blade is well attuned to the ebb and flow of Fate, and, as such, is always at the right place at the right time. At 3rd level, they may add their Charisma modifier to their initiative.

In addition, the number of dice that you spend from your pool for Fated Strike is equal to 1 plus one-third of the maneuver's level, rounded up. That results in a much more regular cost (I recently remembered Ancient Mountain Hammer.)
"There is happiness for those who accept their fate, there is glory for those that defy it."

"Now that everyone's so happy, this is probably a good time to tell you I ate your parents."

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: The Nord's Blade
« Reply #26 on: May 11, 2013, 10:06:34 PM »
Wow, nice! Full IL! :D
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Offline Amechra

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Re: The Nord's Blade
« Reply #27 on: May 11, 2013, 10:21:40 PM »
For three disciplines, at least.

Which must be chosen when you first take your first Nord's Blade level.
"There is happiness for those who accept their fate, there is glory for those that defy it."

"Now that everyone's so happy, this is probably a good time to tell you I ate your parents."

Offline Garryl

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Re: The Nord's Blade
« Reply #28 on: May 12, 2013, 12:34:47 AM »
Amechra, Phaedrus, have you considered asking one of the mods to change the owner of the first post over? I think they've done that a few times in the handbooks section.

Offline Amechra

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Re: The Nord's Blade
« Reply #29 on: May 12, 2013, 12:35:17 AM »
I didn't know they could do that...
"There is happiness for those who accept their fate, there is glory for those that defy it."

"Now that everyone's so happy, this is probably a good time to tell you I ate your parents."

Offline Prime32

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Re: The Nord's Blade
« Reply #30 on: May 12, 2013, 12:25:38 PM »
Yeah, if you both want.

Offline phaedrusxy

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Re: The Nord's Blade
« Reply #31 on: May 24, 2013, 10:52:37 PM »
Yeah, sure. Just saw this.

I'm going to copy-paste the original version here, just in case someone was using it and doens't want to update. I made the changes Amechra suggested in the OP, also.

(click to show/hide)

THE NORD'S BLADE
Select any 10 Discipline skills; they are the Class skills for this class.
Skill Points per Level: 4+Int Modifier
Skill Points at First Level: (4+Int Modifier)*4
HD: d8

LevelBase Attack BonusFort SaveRef SaveWill SaveSpecialFate DiceManeuvers Recognized
1st
+0
+0
+2
+2
Altered Fate, Fate's Swordsman
1
2
2nd
+1
+0
+3
+3
Uncanny Dodge, Replace Fate
2
2
3rd
+2
+1
+3
+3
Right Place at the Right Time
3
3
4th
+3
+1
+4
+4
Fate's Evasion, Fated Strike (1st)
3
3
5th
+3
+1
+4
+4
Alter the Outcome (Damage)
4
4
6th
+4
+2
+5
+5
Mutable Past
5
4
7th
+5
+2
+5
+5
Fated Strike (2nd)
5
4
8th
+6
+2
+6
+6
Improved Uncanny Dodge
6
5
9th
+6
+3
+6
+6
Alter the Outcome (Attack)
7
5
10th
+7
+3
+7
+7
Fated Strike (3rd)
7
6
11th
+8
+3
+7
+7
Improved Fate's Evasion
8
6
12th
+9
+4
+8
+8
Bonus Luck Feat
9
6
13th
+9
+4
+8
+8
Fated Strike (4th)
9
7
14th
+10
+4
+9
+9
Bonus Luck Feat
10
7
15th
+11
+5
+9
+9
Alter the Outcome (Saves)
11
8
16th
+12
+5
+10
+10
Bonus Luck Feat
11
8
17th
+12
+5
+10
+10
Fated Strike (5th)
12
8
18th
+13
+6
+11
+11
Bonus Luck Feat
13
9
19th
+14
+6
+11
+11
Fated Strike (6th)
13
9
20th
+15
+6
+12
+12
Fatima Pluropotentia
14
10
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: A Nord's Blade is proficient in all simple and martial weapons, along with any associated weapon of any discipline they selected in the morning; they are also proficient in all Light and Medium armors.

Maneuvers Known: A Nord's Blade is a rather different fighter than your average Initiator; in fact, they are almost surreally differently.

Each morning, the Nord's Blade may select a number of Maneuvers Known from a number of Disciplines, also chosen that morning, equal to 1/2 their charisma modifier (minimum 1).

They have a number of Readied Maneuvers equal to 1+1/2 the number of Maneuvers Known they have; unlike normally, they may ready a single maneuver multiple times. They may recover a single expended use of any maneuver by removing a number of Fate Dice results equal to 1+1/2 the number of prerequisite maneuvers for that maneuver.

Instead of learning a number of stances, the Nord's Blade automatically enters a stance of their choice; they may only enter a stance if they have met all of the prerequisites for that stance.

Unlike normal initiators, a Nord's Blade only gains 3/4 of their class level as their IL (minimum 1).

Fate Dice: For those who play with fate on their side, it helps that they are able to "tug" the strings, as it were. At the start of the day, a Nord's Blade rolls the number of six-sided dice indicated above, and records the results. If Fate Dice are removed, they regain a single Fate Die at the beginning of every encounter; you do this by rolling a d6, and recording the new result.

Altered Fate (Ex): A Nord's Blade is a horrible person to fight; after all, they have been changed by the fates to work on a slightly different framework of fate. As such, at level 1, the Nord's Blade is treated as if they were using the Bell Curve Rolls variant from Unearthed Arcana.

Fate's Swordsman (Su): A Nord's Blade is, literally, the Sword of Fate, and, as such, is rather more dangerous than a swordsman should be; they may, by performing a DC 20 Concentration check, replace a "d20" roll (in reality a 3d6 roll) with a roll of 4d6 and remove any one dice result. That result is then added to their Fate Dice pool; as such, it can only be used when the Fate Dice pool isn't full. This ability is a free action that may be used only once per round.

Uncanny Dodge (Ex): As the Barbarian class feature.

Replace Fate (Su): A Nord's Blade smiles at bad luck, as for them, there is no luck; they are merely saving up success for later. At 2nd level, when they roll a "d20" (really a 3d6), they may replace a single d6 from the result with of one of the dice from their Fate Dice pool. This ability is a free action that may only be used once per round.

Right Place at the Right Time (Ex): A Nord's Blade is well attuned to the ebb and flow of Fate, and, as such, is always at the right place at the right time. At 3rd level, they may add their Charisma modifier +2 to their initiative.

Fate's Evasion (Ex and Su): This ability functions as Evasion, but can be aided by a pull at fate's heartstrings; they may swap any number of d6s rolled for damage for the evaded effect with results from their Fate Dice pool. This swap applies to the damage rolled for everyone affected by the evaded effect. The second part of this ability is Supernatural, and as such does not function when Supernatural abilities can't be used; additionally, the second part of this ability does not affect Maximized effects, as they do not actually roll the dice.

Fated Strike (Su): A Nord's Blade is strengthened by the power of fate, and of course, since fate's strings are so close to their fingers... After all, if that blow was FATED to hit, they obviously don't have to put any effort into it.
A Nord's Blade may, once per encounter per 3 Nord Blade levels, use a single maneuver of up to the listed level without expending it; if they do so, they may add their charisma modifier to either the attack roll or the damage rolls for the maneuver. If the maneuver doesn't deal damage or require an attack roll, they may instead have the duration of any effect it causes repeat next round, without spending an action. After using this ability, remove a number of Fate Dice equal to 1+(1/2 prerequisite maneuvers for that maneuver (rounding up)) from their pool; if the number of Fate Dice removed from the pool is greater than the number of Fate Dice in the pool, the Nord's Blade gains a number of Negative Levels equal to the difference. These Negative Levels never become level loss, and ignore immunity to Negative Levels; Fate can only be pushed so much.

Alter the Outcome (Su): EVERYONE follows fate, its just that some people... like giving fate a push to keep it going the direction they like.
As an immediate action, a Nord's Blade may designate a single creature within 60'; for 1 round, that creature is treated as if they had the Altered Fate ability. In addition, as a free action, once per round, the Nord's Blade may use their Fate's Swordsman or Replace Fate ability on a single roll by the designated creature.
At 5th level, they may only use this ability on skill checks made by the designated creature.
At 9th level, they may also use this ability on attack rolls made by the designated creature.
At 15th level, they may also use this ability on saves made by the designated creature.
This ability may be used on the Nord's Blade themselves; this allows them to use Fate's Swordsman or Replace Fate twice on a single roll of the indicated types, if they so choose.

Mutable Past (Su): Not everyone started off perfect; however, when you can push fate around, you can usually figure out how to deal with vagaries of the past.

While they are selecting their maneuvers known, they may lower the maximum amount of Fate Dice results they may have prepared by 3 for 24 hours to make it so that one ability score is treated as if it was originally an 18 (in other words, before any increases from levels or magical enhancements, their ability score is treated as if it was an 18.) In addition, they may alter their appearance to any their race could possible have, and may alter their name, their accent, their gender, and the appearance of their clothing while they are doing this; however, this cannot be used as a disguise because, as far as the world is concerned, they have always been that way (Wanted posters alter to match a different face, the name on official documents is changed and so on.). The "18" for a given ability score lasts for 24 hours, but the other changes they may elect bring into play are permanent until they change them again through use of this ability.

Improved Uncanny Dodge (Ex): As the Barbarian ability of the same name.

Improved Fate's Evasion (Ex and Su): As the Fate's Evasion ability, but based off of Improved Evasion rather than Evasion.

Bonus Luck Feat (Ex): Luck is just another word for the vagaries of fate; thus, this marks a refinement of the Nord's Blade's talent for fate manipulation. At the listed levels, they gain a bonus luck feat, which they must qualify for.

Fatima Pluripotentia (Su): Fate is now a pushover for the Nord's Blade to push and pull; they may, as a free action once per round, set every result in their Fate Dice pool to either 1 or 6. All Dice in the pool must be set to the same value.

Multiclassing Notes
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Nord's Blades and Luck Feats
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Additional Stuff:
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Notes:
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Changelog
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« Last Edit: May 24, 2013, 11:00:49 PM by phaedrusxy »
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.