Astronomer (3.5 base)

[sirpercival]

Part of me is entirely willing to steal and reskin the core mechanic of this class for a warrior class.

That's a good idea.

EDIT: TL, that's a ton of comments, which I will sift through when I have a chance.  Just know that I'm not ignoring you

[sirpercival]

Let's get started shall we?

Skills: I might add Autohypnosis, otherwise all appropriate.

Why? I'm not disagreeing, just curious.

Observe phenomena (Su):

(click to show/hide)

When learning your trade under the watchful eye of prestigious scientists, you have learned that by and large the denizens of the world are woefully unobservant.  Perhaps it is simply that the common folk are untrained, but from your experience there are strange and often dangerous astronomical phenomena happening every day.  Why, you have simply to look through your spyglass to see something (usually quite painful) happen to your enemies out of the blue sky.

You can "observe" (read: create) effects called Phenomena by looking through a spyglass as a standard action.  You are limited to observing phenomena that you know, and also by properties of your surroundings called Conjunctions.  You may only observe phenomena whose Conjunctions are active, and once you observe a phenomenon, the active Conjunctions change, as described in the Phenomena descriptions below.  Your Observer Level for phenomena is equal to your Astronomer level, and the save DC for any phenomena you observe is 10 + 1/2 Observer level + your Intelligence modifier.

A phenomenon can be identified with a Knowledge (Arcana) check just like a spell can be identified with a Spellcraft check.  The DC to identify a phenomenon is 15 + the number of required Inferior Conjunctions while it is being observed, or 20 + the number of required Inferior Conjunctions to identify the effect of a phenomenon.

You may observe a maximum of one phenomenon per round, and may not observe a given phenomenon more than once per encounter.  Outside of an encounter, Conjunctions and phenomena uses reset after 5 minutes of inactivity.

You begin play knowing 2 phenomena from the list below, and learn more as shown on the table above.  In the beginning, the only Conjunction automatically active is a single Superior Conjunction ([Day], [Night], or [Sheltered]), which cannot be changed except by certain specific phenomena.  The [Day] Conjunction is active during the day, the [Night] Conjunction is active at night, and the [Sheltered] Conjunction is active underground or indoors, where day and night are unclear.

You can add a new Inferior Conjunction or change an existing Inferior Conjunction by making a Spot check (DC 10 + twice the number of already-active Inferior Conjunctions) through a spyglass as a move action.  Conjunctions reset at the beginning and end of each encounter, and you can have a maximum number of Inferior Conjunctions equal to half your class level (rounded down, minimum 1) active at any given time; if a Constellation or Phenomenon would increase the number of active Inferior Conjunctions past this limit, you choose which Inferior Conjunctions to deactivate.

Ah the meat of the class. It's a fascinating mechanic, but I definitely think you need to add a spoiler "Designer's Notes" explanation of how this might go in a typical encounter or on a typical day. As is, while it makes sense, it's so different from any other existing mechanic that explaining it further might go a long way towards getting this class to be played.

Fair enough.  I'll write something up, probably including CNC's description below.

Some other questions:

• What conjunctions are active at dusk and dawn?
• What about a setting or plane that has neither day or night, but is not necessarily underground or indoors?
• How far away can you activate these conjunctions? Does my BBEG astronomer with a 1 million gp super-telescope get to fight the heroes from miles and miles away?

Hmm.... I'll clarify these, though the third one is easy -- each Phenomenon has a range.

Spyglass apprentice (Ex): Your most important tool is your spyglass, so the first thing you learn is how to make one quickly and cheaply, and how to use it effectively.  You can make a masterwork spyglass (granting you a +2 circumstance bonus to Spot checks in addition to its normal effects) by spending 24 hours and using 100gp of raw materials.  You cannot sell a spyglass you create this way for more than 100gp.  In addition, you use your Intelligence bonus instead of your Wisdom bonus for Spot checks made using a spyglass.

How far does this enable a normal character to see? How does it interact with range increments? Spot checks? Search checks?

A spyglass is an SRD item, but it's not hugely well-defined.  I wouldn't really let it interact with Search checks, since those are usually done at close range (though someone scanning, say, a distant structure for entry points might get a bonus). Range increments should probably be doubled, and for Spot checks I would say it halves the distance penalties.  Other DMs might rule differently, though.

Astrolabe technique (Ex): An astrolabe is an inclinometer used by astronomers to predict the positions of celestial objects.  At 3rd level, and again at every 4 levels afterwards, you use an astrolabe to learn a skill which will aid you in your studies of the heavens.

Astrolabe techniques:

(click to show/hide)

Baade's Stars: You have discovered the source of violent energy in the Universe.  You gain resistance to the energy type of your choice equal to your Intelligence modifier.  You may select this technique multiple times, each time choosing a different energy type.

Cassini's Optics: You have studied the refractive properties of the atmosphere, granting you unparalleled visual awareness and acuity.  You are immune to blindness, and may make a Spot check in place of any other Wisdom-based skill check a number of times per day equal to your Intelligence modifier.

Copernicus's Innovation: You have realized that your planet is not the center of the Universe, but merely a petal on a spinning flower.  By spending a swift action to recenter yourself and gain perspective, you may gain a second save against a mind-affecting effect which affects you and has a duration longer than instantaneous.  You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to your Intelligence modifier.

Einstein's Experiments: You perform complex experiments using your mind alone. You can observe phenomena and add or change Inferior Conjunctions without using a spyglass.

Galileo's Resolution: You are adept at observing the heavens in great detail.  You learn an additional phenomenon.  You may select this technique multiple times, each time learning a new phenomenon.

Halley's Transits: You can use your ingenuity to determine the distance between you and your targets by observing the movement of objects between.  You may use your Intelligence modifier in place of your Dexterity modifier when making ranged attack rolls.

Heisenberg's Uncertainty: It is impossible for opponents to know both your position and your momentum with perfect accuracy.  Whenever you move at least 10 feet in a round, attacks against you suffer a miss chance equal to half the distance you moved (to a maximum of 50%) until the beginning of your next turn.

Herschel's Radiation: Your observations span the spectrum of light, granting you increased awareness of the events around you.  You gain blindsense out to a radius of 5 feet times your Intelligence modifier (minimum 5 feet).

Hipparchus's Precession: Your awareness of the variability of systems lets you predict changes in your enemies' behavior.  You no longer provoke attacks of opportunity from moving through threatened squares.

Hubble's Expansion: You have noticed that space is expanding, moving objects farther apart.  Your base speed increases by twice your Intelligence modifier, rounded up to the nearest multiple of 5 feet.

Kepler's Mathematics: You have learned to calculate and draw inference from celestial arcs, applying rigorous scientific principles to your daily routine.  You may use your Intelligence modifier instead of your Constitution modifier to determine your bonus hit points for each of your Astronomer levels, beginning with the level that you gain this ability.

Laplace's Probability: You understand the flows of probability which determine the course of events, allowing you to predict mathematically where your opponents are going to strike.  You may use your Intelligence modifier instead of your Dexterity modifier when calculating your AC (situations which would deny you your Dexterity bonus to AC, such as being flat-footed, deny you your Intelligence modifier instead).

Newton's Physics: Your scientific mind is beyond compare.  Increase the DC of your observed phenomena by +1.  You may select this technique multiple times; its effect stacks.

Ptolemy's Epicycles: You intuitively understand that motion is far more complex than most believe, and can use that to your advantage.  You may use your Intelligence modifier in place of your Strength modifier when making melee attack rolls.

Schrödinger's Cat: Your experiments are often bizarre and misunderstood.  You gain a cat as a familiar, as the wizard ability, using your Observer level to determine the familiar's abilities.  Unlike other familiars, your cat is neither dead nor alive, and has the Deathless type.

Tycho's Measurements: You are the consummate observer, meticulous and thorough.  Your mind processes information so precisely that it resists effects designed to alter it.  You may apply your Intelligence modifier instead of your Wisdom modifier to your Will save bonus.

Useful and varied. I like these quite a lot. For Einstein's Phenomena, I would specify that they still have to take the same action to activate as normal, even though you aren't using a spyglass. Heisenberg's Uncertainty principle is very powerful at low levels. No comments in particular about it, other than that, but just something to think about. Ditto Herschel's Radiation. Kepler's Mathematics: it's about damn time. For Schrodinger's Cat, I would list the changes of the Deathless type, just for ease of use.

On the whole, these are great, but some are infinitely better than others. I would take Kepler's Mathematics and Einstein's Phenomena every time I played the class for example, while I would almost never take Baade's Stars given how easy it is to get energy resistance.

Fair enough.  I included some of them because they're interesting, and some campaigns might get a lot of mileage out of them, and because there are a lot of historical astronomers to whom I wanted to give shout-outs

Orrey (Ex): At 4th level, you construct a new device to aid you in your observations of the heavens.  An orrey is used to demonstrate the motion of planets and moons through their orbits; using one allows you to predict certain types of phenomena with more regularity.  A number of times per day equal to your Intelligence modifier, you may ignore 1 required Conjunction (Inferior or Superior) when observing a phenomenon.

Sextant mastery (Ex): Beginning at 4th level, your experience with an astronomical sextant has reached the point where you can judge astronomical angles at a moment's notice.  A number of times per day equal to your Intelligence modifier, you can add an Inferior Conjunction as a swift action instead of a move action, but the DC of the Spot check increases by 3.

Spyglass initiate (Ex): At 5th level, you've practiced so much with your spyglass that you've learned to notice eddies in the air and other similar minutiae, even when creatures are invisible.  When looking through a spyglass that you created, you can see invisible creatures (as per the see invisibility spell).

Orrey is definitely useful and needed for the class. Sextant Mastery and Spyglass Initiate are both also very useful. How does Spyglass Initiate react with Einstein's Phenomena by the way?

It doesn't. Seeing invisible stuff (and the other things you get) doesn't have anything to do with observing phenomena.

Torquetum (Ex): When you achieve 6th level or higher, you learn to compute using a torquetum, a mechanical instrument designed to take and convert measurements in different coordinate systems.  This teaches you to observe unknown phenomena on the fly.  Once per day per point of Intelligence modifier, you can spend a full-round action to observe a phenomenon which is not one of your phenomena known.  The phenomenon otherwise functions as normal.

Spyglass journeyman (Su): Starting at 9th level, your connection to your spyglass has taken on supernatural overtones, and you can use it to see far away places that wouldn't normally be visible to you.  A number of times per day equal to your Intelligence modifier, you can produce a clairvoyance effect (as the spell, with a caster level equal to your Astronomer level) as a standard action by looking through a spyglass you created.

Torquetum is a natural extension of Sextant Mastery, and Spyglass Journeyman of Spyglass Initiate. The Einstein's Phenomena question is relevant here as well. Also, why clairvoyance rather than Arcane Sight, out of curiosity?

If you notice, none of the spyglass CFs give you any ability to see magic.  That was intentional.

Cosmos unbound (Su): You reach the pinnacle of your observational abilities at 20th level.  You may observe a phenomenon at any distance, or across planar boundaries, if you have sufficient information to aim with.  You can automatically target any square you can see, including squares you observe via scrying effects.  If you cannot see your target but it is on the same plane, you must know its location relative to you (direction and distance) down to the exact 5-foot square. 

To observe a phenomenon on a different plane, you must succeed at a DC 30 Knowledge (the Planes) check requiring study time (as shown in the table below) to determine the active Conjunctions at your target location.  You may then make Knowledge (the Planes) checks in place of Spot checks to alter the Inferior Conjunctions, with a DC 10 higher than the normal Spot check DC.  Each added or exchanged Inferior Conjunction requires one further hour of study.  Additionally, each phenomenon observed on a different plane requires the [Center] Superior Conjunction, which determines the point of origin of the phenomenon on that plane, and is automatically added when this ability is activated.  The location of the point of origin is determined as per the plane shift spell.  Once the [Center] location has been established, you treat the target as being on the same plane as you, that you cannot see.

Plane	Study time
Material	1 day
Transitive Plane	1d4 days
Inner Plane	1d8 days
Outer Plane	2d6 days
The Far Realm	1d% days

Excellent capstone. Very fitting and very powerful. I will point out that the knowledge checks will be utterly trivial at 20th level, but you likely know that and planned accordingly. This allows a BBEG to essentially annihilate the heroes at any time, and vice versa. Just something to think about.

Duly noted.

I'd also like to toss in a few abilities for use at 3rd, 7th, 11th, etc. for when you gain Astrolabe techniques.

Celestial Navigation: You always know which way is North, and once per day, can cast augury as a full-round action by looking through your spyglass.

Eppur si muove: By looking through your spyglass, you can determine the distance to any given location you are observing. Furthermore, once per day, you can cast lay of the land as a full-round action by looking through your spyglass.

Reading the Heavens: You always know your exact location and cannot become lost. Once per day, you cast find the path as a full-round action by looking through your spyglass.

Eeeenteresting.  You don't think the astrolabe techniques are enough?  Also, some of this seems like it could make a flavorful and interesting feat.

[TravelLog]

I suggested autohypnosis mainly because one key component is memorization, which could be used for star patterns (sidenote: if you haven't read Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything, I highly recommend it. One chapter focuses on Robert Evans (google him), an astronomer who memorized whole patches of the sky without trying and hunts supernovae manually)

I definitely think the astrolabe techniques are good! It was more of a "Hey party astronomer, can you tell us where we are? Star positions and that stuff..."

"Um...I think that one that looks like a Deformed Rabbit is west. Or is it east?"

Also, shame on you for leaving out Lowell! Finally, can you have a joke feat for Penzias and Wilson? Mainly because they got a Nobel prize for a discovery that, to quote Bryson quoting someone, "they did not understand until they had read about it in the New York Times."

More astronomers in case of new techniques: Sagan (!!!!), Gamow, Annie Jump Cannon, Tombaugh, Zwicky, Guth, Bell, Opik and Oort (just because).

[sirpercival]

Constellation Analysis:

General notes: A lot of bonuses are untyped, and therefore ripe for (ab)use. Might I suggest making the skill bonuses insight boni?

Done.

Andromeda: Better Dragonfire Inspiration.

Except: d4 vs d6, off stat, and at 20th level.

Cassiopeia: Making the galaxy effect untyped means it is a better version of the paladin's ability to give CHA to saves. On top of that, I will always be taking LaPlace's Probability, meaning you may be adding both Int and Cha to AC (and possibly saves depending on feats and other astrolabe techniques taken).

I made it an insight bonus. How's that?

Aries: I worry about the Aries Galaxy ability only because you don't explain how it interacts with mindless creatures if at all, or in relation to mind-controlled creatures. Would they use their own saves, or those of the creatures controlling them?

Well, I can't make it a mind-affecting effect, or it'll have no effect at the level it's gained. I can make that explicit. As for mind-controlled creatures, how does it work with any other Will save they make?

Ursa: Galaxy ability is very lackluster compared to those preceding it. I'd make Star so you can choose between the bonus hitpoints and attack bonus, maybe changeable after a period of concentrating, move the Galaxy ability to the Cluster, and make a new Galaxy ability.

Okie dokie. How's that?

Taurus: Galaxy ability seemingly comes out of nowhere in comparison to the other abilities from this constellation. I'd make it the Cluster/Galaxy ability of Andromeda, remove the Petrification immunity (nice Perseus reference by the way), and shuffle it around, then make a new one for Taurus.

Thematically, it's connected to Taurus's relation with Inanna and her symbolism as sexual love and fertility.  People love you.  Y'know?

Orion: Those untyped bonuses again...

What do you mean? They're insight bonuses, right? 

Cancer: Galaxy ability does basically the same thing as Herschel's Radiation.

Blindsense vs blindsight.

Virgo: I'm sure there are many ways to abuse the at-will Shambling mound, even if you can only get one at a time. Gemini's resurrection ability would seemingly be more appropriate here.

Not exactly, since Virgo is about fertility, whereas with Castor & Pollux, one of them was given immortality by being placed in the heavens. I'd be happy for another plant-based suggestion for the shambling mound thing, though, or some way to remove a lot of the abuse (which I would guess comes from Fusion at the very least). Let me see what I can come up with.

Centaurus: That Wisdom bonus as a Galaxy effect compared to a Cluster bonus of equal value to Charisma for Andromeda. Should both be of the same grade.

Or I can just increase the Galaxy effect to be on par. How's that?

Draco: Cluster ability that is the same as Ursa's Galaxy ability. Untyped skill bonus again.

Whoops, good call.

Sagittarius: Really, really good for ranged characters. I question if Cluster ability isn't too good, or at least Galaxy-worthy.

Well... you're not gonna be much of a ranged character, given that you'll have taken 14 levels of Astronomer... though I do think that a combat Astronomer would be buildable.  Maybe someone can do that?

Anyway, should I swap Galaxy & Cluster for Sag?

Cygnus: What if you have both Cygnus and Leo active at the Galaxy level?

They overlap, as usual?

For Phenomena, before I get into them, I need to know if you need all of the noted Inferior and Superior conjunctions active or just any given combination.

I'm not sure what you mean. To observe a given phenomenon, you need to have active the Superior & Inferior Conjunctions that that phenomenon requires.

Also, for quantum feats: teleportation abilities of some sort to mimic linked particles, some feat that grants combat maneuvers relating to each of the quark types, etc. I'll try to come up with more later.

That's... not really what the [Quantum] feats are for.  They're just meta-observation feats.  Called quantum because... meta-observation.

[sirpercival]

I suggested autohypnosis mainly because one key component is memorization, which could be used for star patterns (sidenote: if you haven't read Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything, I highly recommend it. One chapter focuses on Robert Evans (google him), an astronomer who memorized whole patches of the sky without trying and hunts supernovae manually)

Fair enough, I'll add autohypnosis to the list.

I definitely think the astrolabe techniques are good! It was more of a "Hey party astronomer, can you tell us where we are? Star positions and that stuff..."

"Um...I think that one that looks like a Deformed Rabbit is west. Or is it east?"

Lol.  I'm definitely making this a feat.

Also, shame on you for leaving out Lowell! Finally, can you have a joke feat for Penzias and Wilson? Mainly because they got a Nobel prize for a discovery that, to quote Bryson quoting someone, "they did not understand until they had read about it in the New York Times."

More astronomers in case of new techniques: Sagan (!!!!), Gamow, Annie Jump Cannon, Tombaugh, Zwicky, Guth, Bell, Opik and Oort (just because).

Hmm... this is leading to too many techniques.  I was looking for more historical ones, you know? I'm not sure what to do with all these ideas.

[sirpercival]

What if we have an Astrolabe-focused prc?

[TravelLog]

Much better now that they are insight boni. 

@Aries, making it explicit should solve the problem. For the second part, that's actually a question I don't know the answer to. Interesting.

@Ursa: Bueno.

People love you.  Y'know?

Oh stop you.

@Cancer: A more careful reading suggests you are correct.

@Virgo: Castor & Pollux (as well as their other sibling pair) were born from eggs too.

...I'm not helping with that am I?

@Centaurus: Good on ya mate.

@Sag: I'd say maybe so. Your call though.

@Cygnus: ...hush.

For phenomena my question was that you needed all of the listed conjunctions, but yes the question is withdrawn because I know the answer now. Let's pretend I knew it just like there were neeeeever any untyped boni. 

Quantum is what I want it to be!

Also an astrolabe PrC would be cool. This class needs more Sagan dammit!

I'll try and give the phenomena a look-see tomorrow and post my thoughts.

[TravelLog]

Most of the Phenomena are fine as is (great work, btw). Just a couple things

• For Aurora you say, "a new Will save within 1d4 rounds". Does that mean the creature makes a save each round until then, or that they make a second save at that point and none in between?
• For Blueshift, you should mention that it has to be in a line within doubling back, otherwise creatures with the ability to attack creatures any time they move by could abuse it to just move back and forth repeatedly
• Is Cosmic Rays untyped damage? Force damage?
• For Dark Energy, what if you are on the edge of the affected radius, trying to attack or cast into it?
• Can the reverse gravity spell counteract the Dark Matter phenomenon? I ask only because you specifically mention gravity.
• Dispersion: What about True Seeing? Are the images automatically believed?
• Eccentricity: Now I can't stop thinking about an arrow orbiting my head. Great.
• Can creatures able to see through magical darkness  (or another Astronomer using Flocculus) see through Event Horizon?
• Gamma Ray Burst: Damage type?
• Great Attractor: You and untyped bonuses are like seriously a thing. 
• Is Heat Death untyped damage? I ask only because...you know, the name and all.
• Nutation: If you want to be a dick and teleport someone into the ground, do they get shunted and damaged as normal?
• Syzygy: No comments. I just love this word a lot.
• Universal Expansion: same question as Dark Energy

Again, great work. This is really unique stuff. Out of curiosity, how long did it take you from start to finish to get this class out?

[Temotei]

Quick spelling deal: I think orrey should be orrery, right?

I'm most likely going to be looking through this for a while. I'll get back to you with comments once I finish.

[sirpercival]

Quick spelling deal: I think orrey should be orrery, right?

...

...

I'm most likely going to be looking through this for a while. I'll get back to you with comments once I finish.

Awesome!

Most of the Phenomena are fine as is (great work, btw).

Thanks!

Just a couple things
For Aurora you say, "a new Will save within 1d4 rounds". Does that mean the creature makes a save each round until then, or that they make a second save at that point and none in between?

The latter. I'll clarify.

For Blueshift, you should mention that it has to be in a line within doubling back, otherwise creatures with the ability to attack creatures any time they move by could abuse it to just move back and forth repeatedly

Are there creatures like this? Anyway, I'll try to clarify.

Is Cosmic Rays untyped damage? Force damage?

Untyped.

For Dark Energy, what if you are on the edge of the affected radius, trying to attack or cast into it?

I'm... not sure. I think you'd be affected, but I dunno. Suggestions?

Can the reverse gravity spell counteract the Dark Matter phenomenon? I ask only because you specifically mention gravity.

Nope. Reverse Gravity and Dark Matter have specific effects which are not opposites.

Dispersion: What about True Seeing? Are the images automatically believed?

Hm. Dispersion is supposed to be basically mirror image. But MI is an illusion and therefore bypassed by TS, while Dispersion is not.  OK, I'll fix.

Eccentricity: Now I can't stop thinking about an arrow orbiting my head. Great.

 

Can creatures able to see through magical darkness  (or another Astronomer using Flocculus) see through Event Horizon?

Shouldn't, no.  Clarifying.

Gamma Ray Burst: Damage type?

Untyped.  If I don't give a type, it's untyped. I don't identify it as untyped because then it sounds like Untyped damage is a type.  Which makes no sense.

Great Attractor: You and untyped bonuses are like seriously a thing. 

And what bonus type fits this? It would have to be Circumstance... which is exactly the same thing as untyped.

Is Heat Death untyped damage? I ask only because...you know, the name and all.

Yeah, actually, it is.  Heat death is more in terms of entropy being a thermodynamic concept.

Nutation: If you want to be a dick and teleport someone into the ground, do they get shunted and damaged as normal?

Clarified.

Syzygy: No comments. I just love this word a lot.

Me too!

Universal Expansion: same question as Dark Energy

Same answer. Once we fix one I'll fix the other too.

Again, great work. This is really unique stuff. Out of curiosity, how long did it take you from start to finish to get this class out?

IIRC it took me about a month, maybe a little more, most of which was spent writing phenomena.

Speaking of which, here's my remaining list of phenomena, if anyone would like to offer suggestions.

Coronal Mass Ejection
Helioseismic Event
Solar Flare
Solar Wind
Sunspots
Pulsar
Variable Star
White Dwarf
Quasar
Cosmic Microwave Background
Dark Flow
Comet
Core Fusion
Galactic Collision
Intergalactic Medium
Orbital Wobble
Halo Scatterin
Perturbation
Plasma Flow
Radiation

[Garryl]

A couple of ideas for feats and things.

Amateur Observer: Gain the ability to observe 2 phenomena of your choice. You can have a maximum of 1 inferior conjunction. You have an observer level equal to half your character level.
Spyglass Amateur: Gain the ability to make and use spyglasses, as per Spyglass Apprentice. Requires Amateur Observer.
Stargazer: Choose a constellation. You can focus on it to gain its Planet benefit. When it would progress, it is instead lost. Requires Amateur Observer.
Extra Orrery: Gain +4 uses/day of Orrery.
Extra Torquetum: Gain +2 uses/day of Torquetum.
If you change the maximum number of inferior conjunctions to be based on class level instead of observer level, I'd also like to see a Practiced Observer-type feat.

Dark Matter erroneously refers to "chains" when talking about negating Freedom of Movement, and says "graplies".

Any chance we can make Eccentricity not be useless at low levels? It's round/level, for a small defensive bonus that's also rather situational.

Jovian Satellites, and probably a few others, give more conjunctions than are lost. How does this interact with the maximum conjunction limit? How do you decide what happens to the conjunctions when this put you over the limit? This can happen with almost any phenomenon, actually, thanks to Orrery letting you ignore one of the conjunctions that might normally be removed.

Edit: Also, I'd like to run some ideas by you for my PoC/Astronomer PrC.

(click to show/hide)

Requires the Alertness feat, 8 ranks Computer Use and Spot, Observer Relay module and ability to attach to a socket, and ability to observe phenomena.

d6 HD, poor BAB, good Will saves, 4 skill/level

+level to activating
+level to observer level
Gain (level+1)*3/4 additional phenomena known. If you don't have levels in an observing class, you observe as an Astronomer.
Observer Relay as integrated module.
Can use your Observers to observe for you instead of a spyglass. Observers can use your Int mod instead of their Wis mod for Spot checks. You determine line of sight and line of effect from the Observer's space. Observer must be within 5' and within line of sight to observe through it, and it must ready an action (standard action) to allow you to observe through it. Later on, the range increases to 30', then to 100', then to anywhere within communications range, then regardless of line of sight.
Observer Cloud: Lets you have multiple Observers at once.
Socket Access: Socket access at 2, 5, 9. Not going to give core access for observer module any more.
Autonomous Observation: 10th level lets you observe through Observers without line of sight, and those within line of sight can observe on their own as though you were observing. They track their conjunctions separately from you and have a maximum number of conjunctions divided between them. Maximum Observer total inferior conjunctions is 10, but no one Observer can have more than 3 at a time. Observers use half your observer level when observing on their own.

Also, probably giving Evasion and some AC/saving throw boosts to the Observers.

[sirpercival]

A couple of ideas for feats and things.

Amateur Observer: Gain the ability to observe 2 phenomena of your choice. You can have a maximum of 1 inferior conjunction. You have an observer level equal to half your character level.
Spyglass Amateur: Gain the ability to make and use spyglasses, as per Spyglass Apprentice. Requires Amateur Observer.
Stargazer: Choose a constellation. You can focus on it to gain its Planet benefit. When it would progress, it is instead lost. Requires Amateur Observer.
Extra Orrery: Gain +4 uses/day of Orrery.
Extra Torquetum: Gain +2 uses/day of Torquetum.
If you change the maximum number of inferior conjunctions to be based on class level instead of observer level, I'd also like to see a Practiced Observer-type feat.

Thank you! I'll write these up.

Dark Matter erroneously refers to "chains" when talking about negating Freedom of Movement, and says "graplies".

... 

Any chance we can make Eccentricity not be useless at low levels? It's round/level, for a small defensive bonus that's also rather situational.

Sure. How? Increase duration to 10min/level or something?

Jovian Satellites, and probably a few others, give more conjunctions than are lost. How does this interact with the maximum conjunction limit? How do you decide what happens to the conjunctions when this put you over the limit? This can happen with almost any phenomenon, actually, thanks to Orrery letting you ignore one of the conjunctions that might normally be removed.

This is already explained - you choose some to be lost.

Edit: Also, I'd like to run some ideas by you for my PoC/Astronomer PrC.

(click to show/hide)

Requires the Alertness feat, 8 ranks Computer Use and Spot, Observer Relay module and ability to attach to a socket, and ability to observe phenomena.

d6 HD, poor BAB, good Will saves, 4 skill/level

+level to activating
+level to observer level
Gain (level+1)*3/4 additional phenomena known. If you don't have levels in an observing class, you observe as an Astronomer.
Observer Relay as integrated module.
Can use your Observers to observe for you instead of a spyglass. Observers can use your Int mod instead of their Wis mod for Spot checks. You determine line of sight and line of effect from the Observer's space. Observer must be within 5' and within line of sight to observe through it, and it must ready an action (standard action) to allow you to observe through it. Later on, the range increases to 30', then to 100', then to anywhere within communications range, then regardless of line of sight.
Observer Cloud: Lets you have multiple Observers at once.
Socket Access: Socket access at 2, 5, 9. Not going to give core access for observer module any more.
Autonomous Observation: 10th level lets you observe through Observers without line of sight, and those within line of sight can observe on their own as though you were observing. They track their conjunctions separately from you and have a maximum number of conjunctions divided between them. Maximum Observer total inferior conjunctions is 10, but no one Observer can have more than 3 at a time. Observers use half your observer level when observing on their own.

Also, probably giving Evasion and some AC/saving throw boosts to the Observers.

Oooh -- looks cool!

[Garryl]

Dark Matter erroneously refers to "chains" when talking about negating Freedom of Movement, and says "graplies".

... 

Caught copying from the Aetherforge, am I right?

Any chance we can make Eccentricity not be useless at low levels? It's round/level, for a small defensive bonus that's also rather situational.

Sure. How? Increase duration to 10min/level or something?

Start by making the baseline bonus +2 or +4 or thereabouts. A situational +1 bonus to AC is Dodge by another name. And everyone knows how much fun Dodge is.

Try comparing it to similar effects. Wind Wall, what with giving a -no penalty to ranged attacks, probably isn't what you should be shooting for. Shield of Faith, for example, is a reasonable comparison. 1st level, 1 min/lvl, +2+lvl/6 deflection to AC against everything. It's a spell, and thus on a daily limit, instead of by encounter, so you should shoot for slightly weaker than that (assuming you feel that it's a fairly balanced spell, which I think it is once you get out of the lowest levels and their spell slot crunch). The two main ways to make something weaker are lower numbers (ex: a +1 deflection bonus to AC, which is kinda bleh, or a duration measured in rounds, which is fine for a 1st-level buff if it's a fixed duration or otherwise not just 1 round/level) or more situational benefits (ex: applying only to ranged attacks).

Also, as a general rule, try to avoid giving +1 bonuses or -1 penalties as the primary effect of buff or debuff spells. Those only work as all day things (that are essentially passive so you can just work into your baseline numbers on your character sheet) or that apply to a large swath of attributes (so those minor +1s add up over significant parts of your character). Otherwise, they tend to be fiddly little things that are easy to forget.

Be careful about phenomena with durations of 6 minutes or more. The observation system will essentially make them always active, since they're usable every 5 minutes at the longest.

Jovian Satellites, and probably a few others, give more conjunctions than are lost. How does this interact with the maximum conjunction limit? How do you decide what happens to the conjunctions when this put you over the limit? This can happen with almost any phenomenon, actually, thanks to Orrery letting you ignore one of the conjunctions that might normally be removed.

This is already explained - you choose some to be lost.

Where is this written? I missed it.
Never mind, found it right where it should be, at the end of the paragraph regarding your maximum conjunctions. Thanks.

Edit: Also, I'd like to run some ideas by you for my PoC/Astronomer PrC.

(click to show/hide)

Requires the Alertness feat, 8 ranks Computer Use and Spot, Observer Relay module and ability to attach to a socket, and ability to observe phenomena.

d6 HD, poor BAB, good Will saves, 4 skill/level

+level to activating
+level to observer level
Gain (level+1)*3/4 additional phenomena known. If you don't have levels in an observing class, you observe as an Astronomer.
Observer Relay as integrated module.
Can use your Observers to observe for you instead of a spyglass. Observers can use your Int mod instead of their Wis mod for Spot checks. You determine line of sight and line of effect from the Observer's space. Observer must be within 5' and within line of sight to observe through it, and it must ready an action (standard action) to allow you to observe through it. Later on, the range increases to 30', then to 100', then to anywhere within communications range, then regardless of line of sight.
Observer Cloud: Lets you have multiple Observers at once.
Socket Access: Socket access at 2, 5, 9. Not going to give core access for observer module any more.
Autonomous Observation: 10th level lets you observe through Observers without line of sight, and those within line of sight can observe on their own as though you were observing. They track their conjunctions separately from you and have a maximum number of conjunctions divided between them. Maximum Observer total inferior conjunctions is 10, but no one Observer can have more than 3 at a time. Observers use half your observer level when observing on their own.

Also, probably giving Evasion and some AC/saving throw boosts to the Observers.

Oooh -- looks cool!

Is the way of advancing observing alright? Would you prefer it spellcaster style (+1 level of observing) or ToB style (level stacks, add specific number of known phenomena and max conjunctions based on PrC level independent of your base class, if any)? Given that this would be the first Astronomer PrC, I think, I don't want to set the wrong precedent.

[sirpercival]

So the new prc contest is base/base hybrids. I'm going to do an Astronomer/?? hybrid.

[Amechra]

Wait, they are having another "Amechra's specialty" contest?

Let me go look into that...

[TravelLog]

Do a Binder/Astronomer where you bind the Zodiac or other major constellations as vestiges.

[sirpercival]

Do a Binder/Astronomer where you bind the Zodiac or other major constellations as vestiges.

I was actually considering that.

[condochimp]

OK, dang, I really want to homebrew an Astronomer/Disciple of the Eye PrC but I don't know if it's possible for a PrC to require levels in a different PrC. I'll put the concept in a spoiler, in case it is possible.

(click to show/hide)

Chosen of Draco
-Can use the little dragon cursor in conjunction with a spyglass.
-Advances Flurry of Blows.
-Advances Star Charts more quickly, but always aligned with Draco.
-Gives bonuses to giving fear effects.

[Garryl]

Is the way of advancing observing alright? Would you prefer it spellcaster style (+1 level of observing) or ToB style (level stacks, add specific number of known phenomena and max conjunctions based on PrC level independent of your base class, if any)? Given that this would be the first Astronomer PrC, I think, I don't want to set the wrong precedent.

Sirpercival, any thoughts on this? Which version would you prefer for observing advancement?

(click to show/hide)

Table: The Master of Observation           Hit Die: d6
        Base                                                                                          ----------Activating-----------   ----------Observing-----------
        Attack  Fort Ref  Will                                                             Observer
Level   Bonus   Save Save Save   Special                                                   Cloud
1       +0      +0   +0   +2     Integrated Relay, Observe Phenomena, Remote Observation   2          +1 of existing activating class   +1 of existing observing class
2       +1      +0   +0   +3     Least Socket Access, Reinforced Drones                    3          +1 of existing activating class   +1 of existing observing class
3       +1      +1   +1   +3     Observer Evasion                                          4          +1 of existing activating class   +1 of existing observing class
4       +2      +1   +1   +4     Remote Observation (30 feet)                              5          +1 of existing activating class   +1 of existing observing class
5       +2      +1   +1   +4     Lesser Socket Access                                      6          +1 of existing activating class   +1 of existing observing class
6       +3      +2   +2   +5     Remote Observation (100 feet)                             7          +1 of existing activating class   +1 of existing observing class
7       +3      +2   +2   +5     ---                                                       8          +1 of existing activating class   +1 of existing observing class
8       +4      +2   +2   +6     Remote Observation (line of sight)                        9          +1 of existing activating class   +1 of existing observing class
9       +4      +3   +3   +6     Greater Socket Access                                     10         +1 of existing activating class   +1 of existing observing class
10      +5      +3   +3   +7     Autonomous Observation, Remote Observation (anywhere)     10         +1 of existing activating class   +1 of existing observing class

Observing: At each Master of Observation level, you increase your observer level and maximum inferior conjunctions and gain additional phenomena known and tiers of Constellation benefits and Inferior Conjunctions as if you had also gained a level in whatever observing class you belonged to before you added the Master of Observation level. You do not, however, gain any other benefit a character of that class would have gained (bonus feats, additional astrolabel techniques, and so on). This essentially means that you add the level of Master of Observation to the level of whatever observing class you already have, then determine phenomena, Inferior Conjunctions, Constellations, and observer level accordingly.
   If you had more than one observing class before gaining a new Master of Observation level, you must decide to which class you add the new level of Master of Observation for the purpose of determining your observing abilities.

(click to show/hide)

Table: The Master of Observation           Hit Die: d6
        Base                                                                                          ---Observing---   ----------Activating-----------
        Attack  Fort Ref  Will                                                             Observer
Level   Bonus   Save Save Save   Special                                                   Cloud      Phenomena
1       +0      +0   +0   +2     Integrated Relay, Observe Phenomena, Remote Observation   2          1                 +1 of existing activating class   
2       +1      +0   +0   +3     Least Socket Access, Reinforced Drones                    3          2                 +1 of existing activating class
3       +1      +1   +1   +3     Observer Evasion                                          4          3                 +1 of existing activating class
4       +2      +1   +1   +4     Remote Observation (30 feet)                              5          3                 +1 of existing activating class
5       +2      +1   +1   +4     Lesser Socket Access                                      6          4                 +1 of existing activating class
6       +3      +2   +2   +5     Remote Observation (100 feet)                             7          5                 +1 of existing activating class
7       +3      +2   +2   +5     Constellations                                            8          6                 +1 of existing activating class
8       +4      +2   +2   +6     Remote Observation (line of sight)                        9          6                 +1 of existing activating class
9       +4      +3   +3   +6     Greater Socket Access                                     10         7                 +1 of existing activating class
10      +5      +3   +3   +7     Autonomous Observation, Remote Observation (anywhere)     10         8                 +1 of existing activating class

Observing: You add your full Master of Observation level to your observer level, and one half your Master of Observation level to the maximum number of Inferior Conjunctions you can have at once. At each Master of Observation level, with the exception of 4th level and 8th level, you learn a new phenomenon of your choice from the Astronomer observation list.

Constellations: At 7th level, you unlock the next tier of constellation benefits and Inferior Conjunctions.

[sirpercival]

I think I'd prefer the spellcasting-style one, so that we can reserve the other kind for separate progression prcs.