[PoC] Power of Cybernetics General Discussion Thread

[Garryl]

November 14, 2014

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Activating Rules
- Changed various parts related to activator level that were not changed when AL was changed a while back to a single value regardless of class.
- AL is now minimum 1 for activators so that level 1 characters in a non-activating class still have AL 1. Non-activators have no AL regardless of level.
- Removed some irrelevant information about modules having effective hp and hardness.
- Altered the text of the various base classes and prestige classes to account for the new AL rules: Cyberneticist, Dreadnought, Energy Warrior, Inventor, Phazon Adept, Technician.

Base Classes
- Cyberneticist: No longer offers a replacement bonus feat if you already have Tinkering Activator.

Modules
- Dark Beam's energy emitter attachment now deals necrotic damage (a form of amalgam damage) instead of half untyped, half negative energy. Bonus damage per energy reduced to 1d4 from 1d6. Added the acid descriptor.
- Light Beam's energy emitter attachment now deals radiant damage (a form of amalgam damage) instead of half untyped, half positive energy. Bonus damage per energy reduced to 1d4 from 1d6. Added the fire descriptor.

Feats
- Most cybernetic feats that used to boost your activator level in addition to other effects no longer do so.
- Activate Module now requires activator level 1st.
- Practiced Activator now requires 4 ranks in Computer Use in addition to activator level 1st.
- Tinkering Activator no longer has any prerequisites.

Equipment and Items
- Cyberforge Arm Guards and Cyberforge Gauntlets are now clearer about how their properties overlap with those that the weapon or armor might already have. They also explicitly cannot be enhanced as specific magic/cybernetic weapons and armor.

Metroid Adaptation
- Most cybernetic feats that boosted your activator level in addition to other effects no longer do so.

Updated with the latest batch of changes. Not so important but still noteworthy, but the Dark and Light Beam modules got their damage types changed. That whole half pos/neg energy, half untyped thing always felt kludgy. Since I already have the amalgam damage rules in PoC, it seemed like a great alternative.

Edit: So, Nanshork, how's the character coming? Anything I can help with?

[Nanshork]

All of the changes look good to me, thank you for adding the clarifications.


The character is in Limbo.  At this point in time i'm unsure if PoC can match up with Oslecamo's classes for sheer survivability.  It's still in the running though, and I'd probably end up making an Energy Warrior.  I'll keep you updated.

[Garryl]

Energy Warrior should be able to do a good job of survivability. There are plenty of miss chances available (Shadow Beam and the support attachment of Chrono Beam), you can pick up resistances without too much trouble, several immunities are available (Power Suit core = I'm a Construct), plus a few AC (Power Suit, Impulse Soles feet, Power Beam) and save bonuses (especially for Energy Warriors who have access to modules with all 3; by pure coincidence, Cyberneticists and Dreadnoughts only have the Ref save boosting modules). The Energy Tank module is good for a boatload of pure hp. I think Energy Warriors actually have the best access for pure numerical bonuses.

On another topic, I'm considering changing the Dreadnought's capstone. Doubling up on the intuition aura is fun, but it's not really 20th-level-worthy. I'm moving it down to 15h level and adding something else in its place (Equipment Bond +2 stays where it is). Here's what I have so far (after like 15 minutes of kinda sleepy braintstorming so good night).

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Battle Mastery: Beginning at 20th level, you can enter a state of supreme focus as a free action. In this state, all of your training comes together in a way almost impossible to replicate. You gain one of the following benefits for 1 minute, and you can change which benefit you gain once per round during your turn as a free action.

- original plan was to copy the Infinite Prowess and Perfect Warrior soulknife invocations, plus a couple more options of similar value.
- One option for each major battle talent path (crossfire, guardian, battle charge), plus a couple of general-purpose ones anyone can use.
- General: Everything provokes an AoO (as Infinite Prowess).
- General: Perfect Warrior.
- Crossfire bonus: All ranged attacks are aimed. Plus more because that's nowhere near enough.
- Guardian: All damage taken is nonlethal, and fast healing 10. No auto-fail saves on a 1 and maybe Improved Mettle-type effect. Can use Guardian vs. all targeted effects, not just melee and ranged attacks.
- Battle Charge: Freedom of Movement, no AoOs for movement, move/charge through occupied spaces.

[Nanshork]

It's more that Oslecamo's games end up being extremely brutal than anything else.  I missed the miss chances though (haha).


That sees like a really complicated capstone.  I'm not vetoing it outright but I'd like to see what you come up with when you aren't sleep brainstorming.

[Garryl]

Shadow Beam (4 energy) plus Chrono Beam (support) is already a functional 44% miss chance (20% vs. non-attack targeted effects) and you take half damage from area attacks.

[Nanshork]

Ohh, nice.  Okay, you're definitely tempting me to play a high level Energy Warrior.

Edit: I'll just do what I always do and see what the group needs.  If they need a big melee bruiser I won't go Energy Warrior, otherwise I will.

[Garryl]

Ohh, nice.  Okay, you're definitely tempting me to play a high level Energy Warrior.

Edit: I'll just do what I always do and see what the group needs.  If they need a big melee bruiser I won't go Energy Warrior, otherwise I will.

You can do melee bruiser, too. Snag a Monk's Belt (or a level in Monk) and you can do some major SAD for Wisdom. Monk says unarmed strikes are both manufactured (usable as an energy beam form) and natural (usable alongside the natural attack energy beam feats). Unarmed Strike energy beam + the Energy Claws and Energy Fangs feats means 6 attacks, all of which get Wis to attack and damage rolls, a +6 enhancement bonus, and your full 6d6 or 6d4 bonus energy beam damage from the emitter socket (assuming 6 energy allocated). You can double up on the bonus damage dice with Expanded Socket for 2 modules attached to your energy emitter at once (so up to 12d6 in bonus damage per attack, although it would eat up 12 points of energy allocations). Warp Beam is a good choice as it gives an attack bonus for your energy alongside the d4s of damage that are irresistible unless your target is Dimensional Anchored, something that high level foes usually try to avoid. With the Power Suit module's non-armor option you can get Wis to AC alongside full normal armor abilities with Cyberforge Arm Guards (and the various attachments provide great defenses, too).

[Nanshork]

Ohh, nice.  Okay, you're definitely tempting me to play a high level Energy Warrior.

Edit: I'll just do what I always do and see what the group needs.  If they need a big melee bruiser I won't go Energy Warrior, otherwise I will.

You can do melee bruiser, too. Snag a Monk's Belt (or a level in Monk) and you can do some major SAD for Wisdom. Monk says unarmed strikes are both manufactured (usable as an energy beam form) and natural (usable alongside the natural attack energy beam feats). Unarmed Strike energy beam + the Energy Claws and Energy Fangs feats means 6 attacks, all of which get Wis to attack and damage rolls, a +6 enhancement bonus, and your full 6d6 or 6d4 bonus energy beam damage from the emitter socket (assuming 6 energy allocated). You can double up on the bonus damage dice with Expanded Socket for 2 modules attached to your energy emitter at once (so up to 12d6 in bonus damage per attack, although it would eat up 12 points of energy allocations). Warp Beam is a good choice as it gives an attack bonus for your energy alongside the d4s of damage that are irresistible unless your target is Dimensional Anchored, something that high level foes usually try to avoid. With the Power Suit module's non-armor option you can get Wis to AC alongside full normal armor abilities with Cyberforge Arm Guards (and the various attachments provide great defenses, too).

That's actually pretty impressive.  I just have another build I want to use if I go melee bruiser.  It has Divine Rank 0.   

[Nanshork]

You win, I've decided to play an Energy Warrior.

[Nanshork]

What happens if an Energy Beam is a weapon with a reload speed such as a crossbow?

[Garryl]

The energy beam doesn't use ammunition, so the parts of reloading that involve putting in the ammunition are skipped. Unfortunately, that's a bit ambiguous when it comes to crossbows, as their reloading incorporates both replacing the ammunition and cranking back the bowstring.

Unless you can think of any weapon with which it would be imbalanced, I'd be inclined to explicitly make it such that you don't need to reload, period.

[Nanshork]

I don't see it as particularly imbalanced, the worst that'll happen is dual wielding crossbows without worrying about how to reload.

[Garryl]

Just remember that light and heavy crossbows impose extra attack roll penalties for using them one-handed, in addition to TWF penalties. Consider some of the light and one-handed PoC firearms if you want to TWF with ranged weapons. They're shorter range and a little lower damage, though.

If you're thinking about TWF, don't forget about the Dual Weapon module.

[Nanshork]

I'm back and forth on TWF, and I'd have to take the Dual Weapon module because I can't come up with the Dex requirements for the TWF tree. 

I was more pointing things out than telling you what I wanted to do with my character. 

[Nanshork]

I just realized a nerf that I didn't notice before.

Cyberforge gauntlets only affect a single energy weapon.  Therefore, if an Energy Warrior wants to dual wield they need a double weapon (and as far as I can tell you'd have to enchant the gauntlets as a double weapon so track the two ends separately).  No dual wielding energy crossbows for me, you can't wear two pairs of gauntlets.

I don't see an issue with this though, just felt like pointing it out.

[Garryl]

That's what enhancing the gauntlets with multiple property sets is for, you can transfer each set into a different weapon.

[Nanshork]

That's what enhancing the gauntlets with multiple property sets is for, you can transfer each set into a different weapon.

Somehow that time I missed "A given pair of Cyberforge Gauntlets can be enhanced with any number of dormant sets of properties."  I know I'd noticed that before...

[Garryl]

I'm working on a few racial feats for the PoC races. Here's what I have so far. Any comments or ideas? I'm searching for more feat ideas for Engi and Space Pirates, and I'm not too familiar with what cold spells and effects exist to offer Phrygisians.

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Cybot
Flight Boosters: In the original feat list before I even worked specifically on racial feats.
Self-Repair: Done
Improved Self-Repair: Done

Engi
Nanobot Dissolution: Done

Lanius
Consumptive Salvage: Done
Deoxygenation: Can completely drain all oxygen in a 20 foot radius as a standard action. Assuming normal airflow, the oxygen in the surrounding areas will be redistributed over the course of 1 minute. Stronger winds speed it up (see Obscuring Mist and related spells).

Phrygisian
Greater Ice Affinity: Done
Icy Power: Gain more cold-related SLAs. Feat chain, with each additional feat giving stronger SLAs and a higher CL for racial SLAs, but requiring a higher character level.
- Cha 13, ECL 3rd: CL = HD, Chill Metal 3/day, Resist Energy (cold only) 1/day, +2 daily uses of Obscuring Mist
- Cha 15, ECL 5th: Protection From Energy (cold only) 3/day, Sleet Storm 1/day
- Cha 17, ECL 7th: Wall of Ice 1/day, Ice Storm 3/day, +2 daily uses of Sleet Storm

Space Pirate
Augmentation Mastery: Done

Zoltan
Zoltan Energy Surge: Done
Improved Zoltan Energy Shield: While your Zoltan Energy Shield has any hp, you are immune to death effects and to teleportation effects for which you are not willing. In addition, any attack that deals any damage to your Zoltan Energy Shield deals no damage to you, regardless of the amount of absorption remaining (it may still deal damage to other energy shields protecting you).





Augmentation Mastery [Racial]
Prerequisite: Space Pirate, augmentation affinity racial trait.
Benefit: You can have any number of types of grafts without penalty. In addition, you can use the total number of grafts that you have, maximum 5, in place of the number of grafts you have a of a specific type when determining the benefits you gain for having multiple grafts of the that type, as long as you have at least one graft of that type. For example, if you had two cybernetic grafts and one draconic graft, you would gain DR 2/magic and a +2 bonus on saving throws against poison, sleep effects, paralysis, disease, nausea, fatigue, exhaustion, and energy drain, as though you had three cybernetic grafts and three draconic grafts.


Consumptive Salvage [Racial]
Prerequisite: Lanius, metallic sustenance racial trait.
Benefit: You have an unusual metabolism, even for a Lanius. When you consume significant metal deposits, your metabolic processes accelerate rapidly, to the point of healing wounds in a matter of minutes. When you consume a metallic object, in addition to gaining sustenance from it, you gain fast healing 1. This fast healing lasts for 1 round for every 15 gp of the object's market price. If you consume additional metallic objects while this fast healing is still ongoing, the duration stacks. Some time over the next 24 hours, you excrete waste materials worth one-third of the consumed objects' total market price. These waste materials lack any additional nutritional value to a Lanius.


Flight Boosters [Cybernetic, Racial]
Prerequisite: Cybot, boosters racial trait.
Benefit: While you have at least 1 point of energy allocated to your boosters ability, you can use your boosters to glide, negating damage from a fall of any height and allowing 20 feet of forward travel for every 5 feet of descent. You glide at a speed of 40 feet (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 boosters automatically attempt to slow your descent. You descend in a tight corkscrew and take only 1d6 points of falling damage, no matter what the actual distance of the fall.

While you have at least 2 points of energy allocated to your boosters ability, you become able to fly at a speed of 40 feet (average maneuverability). You can't fly while carrying a medium or heavy load. You can safely fly for a number of consecutive rounds equal to your Constitution modifier (minimum 1 round). You can only fly in this low power state for a maximum of 10 minutes per day. Because you can glide before, after, and between rounds of actual flight, you can remain aloft for extended periods (even if you can only maintain your flight for 1 round at a time).

While you have at least 3 points of energy allocated to your boosters ability, your boosters have sufficient power to allow for sustained flight. You can fly at a speed of 40 feet (average maneuverability), and flying requires no more exertion than walking or running.

The speed bonus granted by your boosters also applies to the glide and fly speeds granted by this feat.


Greater Ice Affinity [Racial]
Prerequisite: Phrygisian, ice affinity racial trait.
Benefit: You add an additional +1 to the save DCs of your Cold effects (for a total increase of +2).


Improved Self-Repair [Racial]
Prerequisite: Cybot, easy repair racial trait, Self-Repair.
Benefit: You gain fast healing 1 while at or below half your maximum hit points, allowing you to heal 1 hit point each round.


Nanobot Dissolution [Racial]
Prerequisite: Engi.
Benefit: Once per day when you would take damage that would reduce you to 0 hit points or lower, you can make separate yourself among the nanobots that make up your collective consciousness. You attempt a Will save (DC 5 + damage dealt); if it succeeds, you simply break apart into trillions of individual nanobots and vanish. The nanobots also disassemble all your non-organic gear and anything you are holding or carrying. One day later, you reappear at full hit points in a place you know of near to where you dissolved (but no more than 1 mile away), as your component nanobots return together to reform you. The nanobots also reconstruct the equipment they disassembled in the same condition as when you dissolved; even magical properties are retained. While dissolved, you do effectively not exist—you can do nothing, nor can any of your enemies do anything to you.


Self-Repair [Racial]
Prerequisite: Cybot, easy repair racial trait.
Benefit: You gain a bonus on all Craft checks made to repair yourself equal to 3 plus your character level. In addition, you heal 1 hit point every hour of rest while at 0 or fewer hit points. Finally, if you have "drowned" from immersion in liquids, you can restore yourself to normal functionality as soon as your hit points are raised to 0 or higher.
Normal: A "drowned" Cybot requires 24 hours after being raised to 0 hit points or higher to restore itself to normal functionality, or 1 hour if it is the recipient of a Heal or Craft check.


Zoltan Energy Surge [Cybernetic, Racial]
Prerequisite: Con 13, Zoltan, Zoltan energy shield racial trait.
Benefit: Three times per day as a free action, you can draw upon more of your natural energy, granting you 2 points of temporary energy for 1 minute. As part of using this ability, you can allocate some or all of the temporary energy granted to  your Zoltan energy shield, and it recovers to its (potentially increased) full hit points as though you had refreshed your energy.

[Nanshork]

I don't see any issues with those feats.  I especially like Augmentation Mastery.

[Nanshork]

The Power Suit core attachment doesn't negate precision damage, is this intentional?