Author Topic: Discussion and Suggestion Thread (Read 224374 times)

DonQuixote · « **Reply #300 on:** July 18, 2012, 03:21:44 PM »

Got up the other anchorite ACF. Everyone likes animal companions, right? Good.

Garryl · « **Reply #301 on:** July 18, 2012, 03:52:18 PM »

Scales with shaper level. A good dip, especially for a supermount build. Not ridiculously good, though, but nice. Definitely better than what you give up at the level you get the ACFs. Since it scales with shaper level, not class level, you get the full effect of the feature at level 3 of Anchorite, despite the fact that you lose abilities at higher levels. This ACF is actually more powerful the fewer Anchorite levels (and the more spellshaping PrC levels) you take.

What happens if you pick up actual Druid/Ranger levels? Do you get a second animal companion? Do you add your full Druid levels (in addition to the +1/2 level for nonshaping classes) to your shaper level for the companion?

DonQuixote · « **Reply #302 on:** July 18, 2012, 03:54:40 PM »

Hrm, good points. I'll probably just switch it to class level, since it's replacing class-level-dependent abilities.

In terms of what happens if you pick up actual Druid/Ranger levels...what happens if a Ranger takes Druid levels? That.

Garryl · « **Reply #303 on:** July 18, 2012, 04:02:03 PM »

Quote from: DonQuixote on July 18, 2012, 03:54:40 PM

Hrm, good points. I'll probably just switch it to class level, since it's replacing class-level-dependent abilities.

In terms of what happens if you pick up actual Druid/Ranger levels...what happens if a Ranger takes Druid levels? That.

One companion, effective levels stack. Which makes perfect sense if it's class level-based, but by shaper level it means that 3 levels in Anchorite makes your Druid levels count as 1.5 levels each.

If you want to do it by shaper level for some reason, or if you want to tie it more deeply to the class itself, take a look at the Domeskipper, which is a martial adept class that uses its animal companion as part of its recharge mechanic.

DonQuixote · « **Reply #304 on:** July 18, 2012, 04:17:50 PM »

Having swapped the companion over to being based on class level, that shouldn't be a problem any more. One companion, levels stack.

Domeskipper is interesting. I'll keep it in mind for the other base class idea knocking around in my head. While I don't want to tie the companion too tightly to the anchorite base mechanics--it is, after all, an alternative class feature--the other idea would certainly make sense with this sort of thing.

DonQuixote · « **Reply #305 on:** July 18, 2012, 04:30:21 PM »

Incidentally, a balance question for anyone who wants to answer it: Exactly how powerful is item creation? It's pretty much never come up in the games I've played in, which tend to use spontaneous item generation, inexplicably convenient "finds" that the players pick out between sessions, or Bauglir's spirit point system. All restricted to the Wealth By Level table, of course.

One of the ACFs I was toying with for the savant involved giving it Use Magic Device as a class skill, the ability to take item creation feats as though it had a caster level, and the artificer's Item Creation ability. To me, this doesn't seem like much--a fun toy for a different approach to "obsessively collecting knowledge." And, since this ACF would not include a craft reserve, I figured that it wouldn't break wealth. I just know that the artificer is a pretty damned powerful class, and I want to avoid implementing something with the potential of breaking a game.

Amechra · « **Reply #306 on:** July 18, 2012, 06:41:18 PM »

That would not be too unbalanced.

And, you know what? I was pretty much making the Aspects you have as an ACF for the Anchorite.

As an ACF for the Anchorite.

DonQuixote · « **Reply #307 on:** July 18, 2012, 06:52:13 PM »

Quote from: Amechra on July 18, 2012, 06:41:18 PM

That would not be too unbalanced.

Okay, then the Tinkering Savant shall be written!

Quote from: Amechra on July 18, 2012, 06:41:18 PM

And, you know what? I was pretty much making the Aspects you have as an ACF for the Anchorite.

As an ACF for the Anchorite.

They're a pretty logical progression from what the anchorite is. In fact, truth be told, I like the spellshape aspects better as the core anchorite mechanic. I love spellshape auras, don't get me wrong, but the aspects just feel...right for the anchorite. If I ever do a complete revision of the Codices, I'll probably end up swapping them.

Garryl · « **Reply #308 on:** July 18, 2012, 08:47:06 PM »

I'll second that notion. Having the spellshape aspects as a class feature and the spellshape auras as a general thing accessible to anyone (which they are) also lets you shift the primary source of spellshape auras from the Anchorite class to the circles themselves. Just make sure you add a PrC that works with the spellshape aspects to go alongside everything that uses spellshape auras.

DonQuixote · « **Reply #309 on:** July 18, 2012, 10:55:30 PM »

Well, do bear in mind that I said "if" I ever do a complete revision of the Codices. Given my backlog and my track record for coming up with new ideas, I have no idea how long it would take me to get to a point at which I felt ready to overhaul everything.

Garryl · « **Reply #310 on:** July 18, 2012, 11:05:23 PM »

Possible bug in the Circle Focus feat? It requires you to know a formula to select the feat, but does not have any qualifiers on which circle you can select. You can take the feat for a circle from which you know no formulae under the current wording.

DonQuixote · « **Reply #311 on:** July 19, 2012, 01:12:30 AM »

You know, given that the Spell Focus feat doesn't even require you to be capable of casting spells, I'm not going to lose much sleep over it.

Garryl · « **Reply #312 on:** July 19, 2012, 08:46:13 AM »

Are you also cool with taking Spellshape Aura for a circle you don't know any formulae (or even the spellshape) from? Again, the current wording leaves it open since you only need Circle Focus. Not necessarily a problem, just seems like it may be unintended.
Also, Mastered Formula does not require you to know the mastered formula. I don't know if it's intended or not, so I'm just bringing it up before I forget.

DonQuixote · « **Reply #313 on:** July 19, 2012, 11:30:14 AM »

Hrm, those are bigger problems. I'll look at changing the wording this afternoon.

sirpercival · « **Reply #314 on:** July 19, 2012, 11:43:05 AM »

Hey DonQ, any other issues with Azure Ascetic? If not, I'll move on to the next one.

DonQuixote · « **Reply #315 on:** July 19, 2012, 05:58:40 PM »

Quote from: Garryl on July 19, 2012, 08:46:13 AM

Are you also cool with taking Spellshape Aura for a circle you don't know any formulae (or even the spellshape) from? Again, the current wording leaves it open since you only need Circle Focus. Not necessarily a problem, just seems like it may be unintended.
Also, Mastered Formula does not require you to know the mastered formula. I don't know if it's intended or not, so I'm just bringing it up before I forget.

Fixed these things on the online copies and in my internal documents. I can't actually access my PDF editing software right now--I have to reroute my internet connection through my college's servers to do so--but I'll get the new PDFs up tonight.

Edit: Session ran late. Make that tomorrow evening.

Quote from: sirpercival on July 19, 2012, 11:43:05 AM

Hey DonQ, any other issues with Azure Ascetic? If not, I'll move on to the next one.

As Grand Moff Tarkin would say, "You may fire when ready."

Amechra · « **Reply #316 on:** July 19, 2012, 07:11:19 PM »

Part of me thinks that spellshapers should be able to take reserve feats, and then get the ability to Shape Formula with them.

If you want, I could make a 5 level PrC based around this idea...

DonQuixote · « **Reply #317 on:** July 20, 2012, 02:52:42 PM »

Got two savant ACFs up. I'll update the PDF with the feat changes from yesterday as soon as I get home from work.

Quote from: Amechra on July 19, 2012, 07:11:19 PM

Part of me thinks that spellshapers should be able to take reserve feats, and then get the ability to Shape Formula with them.

If you want, I could make a 5 level PrC based around this idea...

I'm not actually entirely sure how this would work, but feel fee to take a crack at the idea!

pppp · « **Reply #318 on:** July 20, 2012, 02:57:24 PM »

Quote from: DonQuixote on July 20, 2012, 02:52:42 PM

Got two savant ACFs up. I'll update the PDF with the feat changes from yesterday as soon as I get home from work.

What a cool update! Now we have a class which could qualify to the Singer of Storms PrC without multiclassing

Thanks!

DonQuixote · « **Reply #319 on:** July 20, 2012, 07:04:23 PM »

God help me, I figured out how to make prismatic formulae a thing. Granted, the class feature that explains how they work is six paragraphs long, but they work. I think.

Prestige class, hoooo!

(This is probably a terrible idea.)

Edit: I will say, as I look at what I've come up with thus far, that the most hilarious epic build for a spellshaper would be Impulse Mage 10/Unnamed Prismatic Prestige 10/Chaos Shaper 10. What are you even doing at that point? Randomly occurring formulae, cumulative percentage chance of STUFF happening, and a 1d8 roll every time you hit someone to find out what you hit them with. Bonus points if you take those random teleportation impulse mage feats.

News:

Author Topic: Discussion and Suggestion Thread (Read 224374 times)